Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would be the first to say that we have challenges in the Defence Forces. There is no doubt about that and I have recognised and stated that on numerous occasions. We are competing in a very strong economy that is almost at full employment. A significant amount of work is happening in the background. The Deputy understands public sector pay. He understands that we cannot take one organisation out of the public sector and say that we will pay it more because the Deputy, his party and every other Member of this House, including those on my side of the House, would be jumping up and down asking why, if the Defence Forces were getting more pay, everybody else, including teachers, doctors and gardaí, did not get more pay. I hope the Deputy recognises and understands that. They are members of the public service who have received increases under the public service stability agreement out to 2020. Anyone in receipt of €70,000 pre-FEMPI cuts will have their pay restored. Military management and senior civil servants in my Department have worked over many months to produce a joint submission that was presented to the Public Service Pay Commission. The commission looked for a data-based submission with which we have presented it. I have asked that the commission meet face to face with military management and departmental management to go through the challenges relating to recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces. I commend members of the Defence Forces for the work they do. If it was as simple as just giving a pay rise, we would all do it but the Deputy understands that we just cannot take one organisation out of the public service and say there you go, that we are not looking after anybody else. We are going through the public service stability agreement programme. There have been increases this year since 1 January and 1 October and there will be further increases going to 2020. We are working in parallel with the Public Service Pay Commission.

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