Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a commission on the future of the Defence Forces which, as part of its remit and terms of reference, will look at pay structures and allowances for the Defence Forces. What we have committed to in the programme for Government is that on the back of what the commission reports to me before the end of the year, I will consult the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy McGrath, on the setting up of an independent pay review body for the Defence Forces. The reason for this is the uniqueness, as Deputy Ó Cuív outlined and as I referred to earlier, of serving in the Defence Forces, members' inability to strike and get involved in political lobby and so on.

Serving in the Defence Forces is unique in the public service and requires an independent pay review body that will not just report on a single occasion but will be permanent and will assess pay issues in the Defence Forces each year. That is what the Government has committed to and I look forward to being able to deliver on that.

See this speech in context