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

The issue is finding solutions. No one is in any doubt about the challenges facing the Defence Forces, the loss of personnel or the fact that we are not recruiting sufficient personnel to offset the numbers who are leaving. That involves both a recruitment and a retention strategy. In the context of the high-level action group it involves implementation of the 38 early actions to be completed within six months of the Government decision. To date, approximately two thirds of those 38 early actions have been achieved. I can go through the details for the Deputy on the head of transformation and the head of strategic HR positions. The human resource management and human resource dimension of the Defence Forces have to be transformed, and there also has to be cultural transformation within the Defence Forces. We have implemented the oversight group, with Ms Julie Sinnamon approved as chair and overseeing the implementation. We have removed the requirement for three-star private able seamen to mark time for the first three years at that rank and we have ensured that all personnel at private three-star able seaman rank are paid the full-rate military service allowance applicable to the rank.

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