Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will recognise that all public service pay was cut back in the tougher economic circumstances we went through at the time when the Deputy was a member of the Government. Nobody wanted to do it. As our public finances are improving, the public service stability agreement is now in place, in which there are real financial benefits for all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces.

The independent pay commission examined issues of recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. It reported back in July and made a number of recommendations, including a package of €10 million per annum. In addition, I was able to personally negotiate some outstanding payments for members of the Defence Forces with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, at a cost of €1.7 million.

I was delighted that RACO, which is the representative group for officers of the Defence Forces, accepted the recommendations of the pay commission yesterday. There are real tangible benefits for officers of the Defence Forces in doing so and I understand that PDFORRA will also consider the recommendations shortly. I hope it also accepts the recommendations because that would be of real benefit to members of the Defence Forces. I acknowledge the challenges and the concerns the Deputy has around recruitment and retention and on the latter in particular. However, an implementation body has been put in place for phase one of the strengthening of the Defence Forces, which I am confident will make a real difference and put more money into the pockets of Defence Forces personnel.

See this speech in context