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

As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Defence does not make a final decision, certainly not on their own, in regard to pay and allowances in the Defence Forces and how the military is treated in terms of public sector pay policy. That requires the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's approval. The Deputy will have seen for example the Naval Service supports on going to sea and how long it took to get agreement on those issues. We are in the middle of a pay discussion at the moment and I need to be aware of that. We are also close to bringing recommendations from me to Government in regard to how we respond comprehensively to the commission's report. I am in contact with other key Ministers, in particular the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, and the Taoiseach's office in regard to trying to provide as comprehensive a response as we can to some of the issues raised. However, it must also be consistent with public sector pay policy. I do not think the Deputy will have to wait too long to get the answers to those questions.

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