Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. We have a strong and proud Defence Forces in this State, ensuring the security of our State, protecting our democracy, asserting our sovereignty, dealing with subversive threats, participating in peacekeeping missions for the UN and the EU - for example, we recently extended the mission in Lebanon - and also providing essential aid to the civil power, particularly the Garda when it comes to dealing with organised crime. It is not the case, however, that members of our Defence Forces are discriminated against because of their uniform. In fact, they are tied into the public sector pay agreement so any pay increases that are secured by trade unions, which can go and have gone on strike, also apply to the Defence Forces. They are part of the public sector pay deal. That means full restoration of pay for almost everyone in the Defence Forces by October next year, which is already happening in phases. To give the Deputy an example, the average gross earnings, excluding overseas allowances, for a three star private has gone up to €37,529; for a corporal, it has gone up to €41,000; for a lieutenant, it has gone up to €42,000; for a captain, it has gone up to €56,000; and for a commandant, it has gone up to €66,000. That is up on where it was a few years ago and it will continue to increase until we have pay restoration by October 2020, as agreed. The Public Service Pay Commission is examining issues that are particular to the Defence Forces. We accept there are issues that are particular to the Defence Forces and that it why it has been tasked with that job.

See this speech in context