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

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I fully acknowledge the challenges currently facing the Defence Forces in regard to recruitment and retention including, in particular, the Naval Service. Ireland is not alone, however, in these challenges, which are being experienced by a number of other militaries across the world, with particular challenges for navies internationally.

There are a number of specific financial retention measures already in place in the Naval Service to recognise service at sea, including a patrol duty allowance, a Naval Service seagoing service commitment scheme and a seagoing naval personnel tax credit. The implementation of early actions from the Commission on the Defence Forces report, in addition to the most recent pay increases provided under the building momentum pay agreement, have contributed to significant progress on pay for all personnel, including those in the Naval Service.

Other initiatives undertaken to address recruitment and retention issues in the Naval Service include: changes to recruitment practices with the assistance of external specialists; a targeted recruitment campaign for the Naval Service; the extension of service limits for privates, corporals and sergeants and Naval Service equivalents recruited after 1 January 1994; the expansion of access to the Naval Service commitment scheme, with service requirements reduced from three years to one year; ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment as well as the re-entry schemes for former personnel; the extension of private secondary healthcare to all ranks in the Defence Forces, a benefit that previously was only available to officers; significant investment in equipment and physical infrastructure; and participation in the overseas mission Operation Irini.

A further range of financial and non-financial retention measures are also being advanced, including progressing with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform an examination of the existing seagoing allowances with less complex seagoing duty measures, the examination of mandatory retirement ages in all ranks in the Permanent Defence Force, progressing with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the introduction of a mechanism to provide for the ongoing review of the application of existing specialist pay rates and allowances, a review of medical services in the Defence Forces, associate membership of ICTU for the representative associations to be underpinned by legislation and the finalisation of the policy position on the working time directive.

My focus is to stabilise the Naval Service. The immediate action required is to provide for less complex sea going duty measures, which will encourage and reward sea going in the Naval Service.

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