Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Irish people quite rightly take great pride in our Defence Forces and the contribution they make to our domestic security, international peace and security and the broad range of supports they provide to other Government Departments and agencies on an ongoing basis. Many of us have witnessed at first hand the important work the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service undertake, both at home and overseas. It is important to recognise the excellent work of the Reserve Defence Force in supporting the Permanent Defence Force. This is led by the Minister with responsibility for defence and his Department.

The counter-motion seeks to give a more balanced presentation of the facts. The Minister, Deputy Kehoe, has already mentioned the increased levels of funding for defence he has successfully secured and, in accordance with the National Development 2018-2027 and Project Ireland 2040, the capital allocation for Vote 36 - defence has been increased to €106 million for 2019, an increase of €29 million or 38% on the 2018 allocation. The national development plan provides for a total of €541 million over the period from 2018 to 2022. This substantial increase in funding supports a programme of sustained equipment replacement and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, as identified and prioritised in a White Paper. This investment will see the replacement and upgrade of significant equipment platforms over the lifetime of the White Paper, including an upgrade of the Army's fleet of armoured personnel carriers, enhancement of the capabilities of the Army ranger wing and replacement of the Air Corps' Cessna fleet and the CASA maritime patrol aircraft.

The decision to acquire a large new multi-role vessel to replace LÉ Eithnewill provide a new enhanced set of capabilities across a wide range of roles. In addition, I am pleased to note the sustained programme of investment in barracks infrastructure to improve accommodation and other facilities across the country.

Regarding the issue of pay, as the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, has outlined, the Public Service Pay Commission examined recruitment and retention issues in the defence sector and the Government will decide on its approach to this. The focus of pay increases under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 has rightly been on those on lower pay. The agreement provides for increases in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4%. Increases due under the agreement to date have been paid to Permanent Defence Force personnel and further increases in pay are scheduled for later this year and next year. By the end of the current agreement, the pay scales of all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces, earning under €70,000 per annum will be restored to pre-FEMPI levels. The restoration of the 5% reduction to allowances under FEMPI is also scheduled under the agreement.

The motion calls for the establishment of a permanent and independent Defence Forces pay body. In Ireland, pay policy is determined centrally by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform having regard to public sector pay agreements. The Government established the independent Public Service Pay Commission to advise it on public service pay. I can confirm that there are no plans to institute separate pay bodies.

The position in respect of the working time directive is that legislation is currently being considered by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. This will remove the blanket exemption previously understood to apply to military personnel. Work is under way to achieve a graduated solution that respects the unique operational requirements of a military force in the understanding that the directive provides for the exemption of certain military activities. I am aware of, and welcome, the fact that a joint civil-military approach is being taken and that there is deep engagement with the representative associations on the directive.

This Government will continue to address the challenges facing the Defence Forces and looks forward to the publication of the pay commission's report, which will form the basis of further discussions with relevant parties to the public service stability agreement.

See this speech in context