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

As I said, the change is that the prevailing number dictates the allocation, so there will not be an underspend in that respect. It is a sensible approach. The key issue is that the largest budget increase ever experienced by the Department of Defence occurred in the 2023 Estimate. The pay increases have occurred relative to the pay agreements and the recommendations. There are other recommendations that will improve terms and conditions for personnel that we are working on. Critically, we need significant investment for capital investment and non-pay allocation of resources. The arrangement opens up opportunities while protecting the commitments made by the Government on both the ambition to get back to 9,500 personnel and up to 11,500, which is the LOA 2 objective. Therefore, there are sufficient guarantees on the pay front. I repeat there is no lack of urgency about changing the recruitment story within the Defence Forces.

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