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

I thank the Deputy for the question. Since taking up my role as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence last December, I have met with representatives of PDFORRA on three separate occasions to date. These were on 13 February to discuss a range of pay and conditions matters, on 27 March to update the association on the recent report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality issues in the Defence Forces, and on 2 May to seek the views of the association on that report and on draft terms of reference for a statutory inquiry, which is one of the key recommendations in the report.

I further welcomed the opportunity to attend and speak at PDFORRA's annual delegate conference on 9 May, just last week.  At that conference, I addressed delegates on several key issues facing the Defence Forces.  I highlighted the important service provided by the Defence Forces and the significant risk that comes with it. This risk sadly became a reality with the tragic events in the context of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, last December, which resulted in the tragic death of Private Seán Rooney and injuries being sustained by three other members of our Defence Forces.

I also used the opportunity at the conference to acknowledge the range of improvements made over the last year with regard to pay and conditions. I outlined several significant recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces which have been delivered, including temporary associate membership of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, for the purpose of participation in public sector pay negotiations; changes to pay and allowance structures for personnel in the first three years of service, resulting in starting pay of €37,147 in year one for a three-star private; and the delivery of a commission recommendation on extending healthcare provision for enlisted personnel.

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In addition, I referred to the issue of post 1994 contracts for enlisted personnel and announced that I had secured an interim arrangement that will allow for the continuance in service to the end of 2024 for those privates and corporals recruited on or after 1 January 1994 who would be due to retire on age grounds before that date, subject to their meeting established criteria.

I also announced the delivery of a programme for Government commitment and Commission on Defence Forces recommendation on the extension of healthcare provision for enlisted personnel. Agreement has been reached in principle to allow all enlisted members of the Defence Forces to benefit from the same access to private secondary health care as officers, thanks to the co-operation and assistance of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, and colleagues in government more generally.

In addition, I referred to the recent IRG report on dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

I took the opportunity to again express my deep appreciation to all the groups, including serving and former personnel and the Women and Men of Honour, who have come forward. In conclusion, I have had a range of recent engagement with PDFORRA and I look forward to further continued constructive engagement with the Defence Forces representative associations.

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