James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister is well aware of, and we have discussed in this Chamber and at the committee in the past, the issues of retention and the difficulties and challenges in maintaining the force, largely due to pay and remuneration and those bread-and-butter matters. The defence committee visited Haulbowline, the Curragh camp and other places, and we heard this from many front-line officers and personnel, who want to serve, are very proud to serve and enjoy their career, but are struggling to make ends meet. We are all aware of those challenges and it is a challenge for the country as a whole. It strikes me that the reinstatement of this allowance may be one among a palette of options that might go some way towards addressing this and might be useful in those negotiations.

While it is welcome and is extremely positive news that a minimum of 3,000 new personnel are required within the force to ramp it up again, instruction will be needed for all those new recruits and those instructors will have additional duties, as they have always had. I note that in a submission, either on the Haddington Road or Croke Park agreement, the Department of Defence acknowledged the responsibilities of an instructor as being above the normal required of such a grade and as qualification-based. The argument was made previously to retain the allowance, possibly during the negotiations on the Croke Park agreement. Therefore, the Department does acknowledge the time commitment and skills required. I ask the Minister to consider that.

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