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

My understanding of the specialised instructors' allowance is that there are ongoing discussions with RACO, but RACO agreed with it some time back as part of an earlier deal. I outlined a fairly lengthy list of measures. The personal tax credit is worth about €1,500 for those at sea over a particular period. The measures have not been effective on the recruitment side.

The pension issue continues. An interdepartmental group is working on that because if we do it for the Defence Forces it clearly has a read across to other uniformed services. We are considering the patrol allowance. We have had discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Again, the objective is meant to be to get more people onto ships out at sea. That would mean amalgamating the personal tax credit into a new simplified allowance. We have to be very clear sighted that it will have the impact that is being claimed for it, namely that it will result in more people being incentivised go to sea. I want to do the best I possibly can in that regard. That is why we will retain the personal tax credit for this year while we are finalising other matters. The pay agreement is coming. We might be able to come up with a better package.

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