Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It was during Deputy O'Dea's time as Minister for Defence that the allowance was terminated and that the aforementioned conciliation process took place. This ensured that, from 2009 onwards, the allowance would not continue. There is now a legacy such that more than 700 members of the Defence Forces, a substantial number of whom are not engaged in Border duties, are in receipt of the allowance as a result of an adjudication.

With regard to the review of allowances by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the outcome of the Government decision, in the interest of reducing the pay bill, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wrote to my Department instructing management to engage with staff interests immediately with a view to securing their early agreement to the elimination of certain Defence Forces allowances payable to current beneficiaries, including the Border duty allowance. The issue of allowances, including the Border duty allowance, is the subject of discussions between management and the representative associations under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Defence Forces. That is part of the procedural approach prescribed under the Croke Park agreement. The Deputy will appreciate that, as discussions under the scheme are confidential to the parties, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the issue at this juncture. I do not want to say anything that might prejudice the discussions. The approach I have outlined is part and parcel of addressing legacy issues that need to be addressed in circumstances in which the resources of this State are limited and must be used carefully and wisely.

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