Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State said that he asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to prioritise the defence sector. There were, however, serious delays during Public Service Pay Commission process. The Minister of State had the report but now the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has it. Will the Minister of State tell us what is going on between him, the Department of Defence and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform? It is highly unusual that we have this vacuum and this delay when there is such an urgent need to address the issues of allowances. That is especially the case when there are such concerns about the report.

The Minister of State needs to show some leadership in the area. If he is not happy with the report, then he should state that on the record here. He should take on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe. The Minister of State should actually deal with this issue of pay and allowances instead of referring to a circle of bureaucracy involving memos and which Minister is responsible for bringing this report to Cabinet. The Minister of State should show some leadership. He should represent the Defence Forces personnel and give them some respect and dignity rather giving us this cycle of waffle about a memo and who has it. The Minister of State has read it and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has read it. They should now deal with the report.

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