Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for discussion as it is extremely important for serving members of the Permanent Defence Force. I refer to the upper service limits that have applied since 1 January 1994 and pertain to enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force. I understand the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, at its recent conference, called for and initiated a claim for a review of these limits.

With effect from January, the Department of Defence unilaterally introduced new terms and conditions in respect of those enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force. The new measures were intended to address the high age profile and non-activity levels of serving personnel identified in reviews of the Permanent Defence Force in the early 1990s. The main provisions of the new measures were as follows: new entrants were engaged for a five-year period, with a small number - I understand it was between 10% and 15% - being given an opportunity to extend service beyond this term; it was planned that maximum service limits of 12 and 21 years would apply to corporals and sergeants, respectively, with senior non-commissioned officers permitted to remain in service until 50 years of age; new entrants would have higher health and fitness standards and those who wished to remain in service for up to 21 years would be required to meet grade 1 standard, with grade 2 standard necessary thereafter. In accordance with the Gleeson commission recommendation, new entrants would not receive pre-discharge leave, extension of service leave or gratuity payments. PDFORRA opposed the shorter contracts and campaigned vigorously against them in an effort to have the careers on offer to its members extended to up to 31 years. The higher fitness and medical standards were accepted by PDFORRA, as were the changes to pre-discharge leave, extension of service leave and extension of service gratuity payments.

Negotiations took place on several occasions regarding the contracts for the period after 1 January 1994. Following a ballot of the relevant members, an agreement was reached in 2006, the main provisions of which were as follows: privates and corporals could serve for up to 21 years and sergeants until the age of 50, with senior NCOs able to serve until the age of 65 years; and to reach the service limits, privates, corporals, sergeants and senior non-commissioned officers must have fulfilled the eligibility criteria - in other words, they must have undertaken specific courses, obtained a record of good conduct, obtained recommendations and achieved high fitness and medical standards.

I have recited the terms of the agreement to provide a background. The agreement has been a great success and has resulted in an increase in the effectiveness of personnel to high levels. A recent report confirms that the Permanent Defence Force has the lowest level of sick leave in the public service. In 2012, PDFORRA decided to seek a review of the service limit of 21 years for the ranks of private and corporal. It did so for a number of reasons. The new higher fitness and medical standards have, as I stated, been a complete success and effectiveness levels are very high. PDFORRA expected the Department to put in place measures to support and prepare personnel for discharge from the Permanent Defence Force after 21 years' service. This would involve assistance with the preparation of curricula vitae, interview and job search skills, training, etc. I understand no such support measures were provided. Given the increase in the number of people who are unemployed, it is much more difficult to secure employment.

The Croke Park agreement provides for the standardisation of terms and conditions. Service periods for other categories of public service member have not been limited to 21 years, as is the case for members of the Permanent Defence Force, even where they are able to perform their duties to a high standard. I ask that the Minister undertake a review of this restriction to provide upper service limits for privates and corporals of 50 years of age, as applies to those of sergeant rank, subject to a requirement that they continue to meet the eligibility criteria, including high fitness and medical standards.

The Minister should introduce a number of measures to help those who have entered the Permanent Defence Force since 1 January 1994. These include assistance with CV preparation, interview skills, training and job search, the payment of a service gratuity to those who have been compulsorily discharged and the payment of outstanding claims for a small additional pension gratuity. I understand that during the negotiations on the Haddington Road agreement, PDFORRA sought the introduction of an upward service limit of 50 years of age for privates and corporals as a cost-saving measure for the Government in the defence sector. I am sure the Minister would be pleased to hear any proposals for cost savings.

The additional pension costs arising from the discharge and subsequent replacement of 100 privates and corporals who entered the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994 will be of the order of €1.3 million per annum. If 100 privates and corporals are compulsorily discharged in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, the cumulative additional pension costs will be in the order of €7.8 million. This is a no-brainer, as it were. At the PDFORRA annual delegate conference in 2013, the Minister confirmed that further discussion would take place on the issue. From a management perspective, the manpower and operational needs of the Defence Forces must be a primary consideration. Surely increasing the upper age limit for service, as requested, would not detract from the primary consideration outlined by the Minister. On the contrary, I suggest it would tie in neatly with his views on the matter.

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