Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the issue raised by Deputy MacSharry, the Building Momentum pay agreement will certainly be allocated to defence staff and the broader Commission on the Defence Forces report is about making sure that we both retain staff and attract new recruits in, over and above the number of people who may leave. That will be tangible. There have been changes to some of the allowances in respect of the Naval Service and so on that have improved the situation somewhat. It remains a work in progress but Building Momentum will certainly improve the situation. There is also the recruitment of a head of transformation and a head of strategic human resources at senior management level, which is crucial and a significant culture change. The budget also includes changes in respect of allocations to meet pay and allowance enhancements recommended by the commission. These will be tangible measures that will make a difference.

In terms of the point raised by Deputy O'Donnell, I will speak to the Minister regarding Part V.

As regards the issue raised by Deputy Carthy, the Government has allocated in the national development plan funding for the A5. I am repeatedly told it is-----

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