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

I am not sure about recognising that the commission's recommendations on pay would be the equivalent of a Labour Court recommendation but certainly they need to be taken seriously, regardless of what equivalence there may be. The Government needs to deliver on the recommendations of this commission report. It is credible and badly needed. It has exposed significant capacity gaps in our defence infrastructure that need to be responded to. I hope to be able to bring the report to the Government very shortly. I cannot give the detail as to what the Government will decide in regard to some of the recommendations. I do not have Government approval for that yet. I have to get that approval from colleagues before announcing it in this House. The Deputy has no doubt read this report a number of times, as I have. They are very sound recommendations in regard to how we manage people and reward them for the work they do and for the risks they take. I want to see the recommendations in this report implemented in full. Questions arise as to how and how quickly we do that, what it will cost and whether I can get Government agreement on it. I hope to be able to answer all those questions shortly.

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