Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Public Service Pay Commission was established to provide objective advice to Government on public service remuneration policy. In 2017, under my direction, the Department of Defence brought issues of recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces to the attention of the commission. The commission produced its initial report in May 2017 and highlighted recruitment and retention issues, including in the health and defence sectors, that required further analysis. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides for the Public Service Pay Commission to undertake this further analysis. In this context, the commission has initially focused on the health sector and recently produced its second report focusing on certain health grades.

Earlier in the year, the commission sought specific data from the Department of Defence. A civil-military team was tasked with sourcing these data and this work been ongoing. The material requested included detailed data and specific trends. These data were not readily to hand and every effort has been made to provide this material as speedily and comprehensively as possible. An initial tranche of material was forwarded to the commission through the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in early April. This focused on pilots and air traffic controllers. Further material was sent in early September and the remaining outstanding data will be forwarded this week following their recent receipt from the military authorities.

The Public Service Pay Commission's work on the defence sector is under way. As the commission’s work is ongoing, I will not make any comment or engage in speculation on possible findings. I look forward to reviewing the findings of the commission in due course.

See this speech in context