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

It is important that the commission does not become about pay only. In its terms of reference, it has been asked to examine pay structures and allowances, how they developed and are structured, and whether they are appropriate in terms of international best practice and so on. It will certainly consider pay structures and allowances, how they work within the Defence Forces and whether those structures can be improved. Separately, we have committed in the programme for Government to setting up an independent pay body for the Defence Forces.

I have contended for many years that people who commit to a career in the Defence Forces are different in many ways from others who commit to public service. They cannot strike or get involved in political advocacy and a series of different structures apply to them, within the defence infrastructure, in regard to arbitration mechanisms and so on. It is a very different type of service and in my view, therefore, it justifies a separate pay body to assess the unique circumstances, challenges and rewards needed in the context of serving in our Permanent Defence Force.

There are two commitments of the Government. Within the terms of reference, the commission can examine pay structures and allowances but is required to be consistent with public sector pay policy. I am often involved in debates in the House in which Deputies ask me to increase pay rates in the Defence Forces.

The very same people will defend collective bargaining in public sector pay agreements, and so on. One cannot have both. We need to have consistency here, which is why we are trying to address this by setting up a separate pay body to look at the unique circumstances within the Defence Forces around pay, structures, allowances and so on. The commission will be looking at these issues and when the commission reports, we have committed to setting up an independent pay body at that time.

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