John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on efforts to address difficulties within the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14311/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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What attempts or efforts are being made to deal with the major crisis that has been developing before our eyes in recent years within the Defence Forces, particularly the Naval Service in which numbers are at an all-time low? Two Naval Service ships have been mothballed because of the inaction of successive Governments.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has previously acknowledged, as do I, the current staffing difficulties in the Naval Service, and the Defence Forces in general. In response to the specific challenges in the Naval Service, a comprehensive regeneration plan is being progressed and monitored by a high-level civil and military team. The aim of this plan is to address all of the issues, including human resource matters. The recent decision to place the LÉ Róisínand LÉ Niamhinto operational reserve will assist in regeneration by prioritising the training and development of existing Naval Service personnel, while also stabilising operational delivery. The Naval Service has advised that this action will not affect its ability to fulfil its current maritime security and defence commitments, including commitments provided under the current service level agreement with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA.

To counter recent recruitment trends, military management is progressing its proposed recruitment strategy for 2023 and beyond. In addition to ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment, military management is introducing a planned specific recruitment campaign for the Naval Service, and a tender competition for a specialist recruitment body to target individuals with the skills and expertise required by the Naval Service. As the Deputy will be aware, there are particular challenges in recruiting and retaining certain specialists as there are competing demands for such professionals in other sectors of our strong economy.

A number of retention initiatives have been implemented and others are under way. These include the service commitment scheme and the seagoing naval personnel tax credit. Agreement has also been secured to allow for an extension in service limits for privates and corporals and an interim arrangement for sergeants and their equivalent Naval Service ranks. There has also been significant progress on pay, with starting pay rates in the Defence Forces comparing well with other areas of the public service. My immediate focus is on stabilising the staffing situation in the Naval Service and thereafter on bringing the strength of the Naval Service and Defence Forces to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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Morale within the Defence Forces, particularly the Naval Service, is at an all-time low. The strength of the Naval Service is approximately 770, although the active and effective strength is probably less than 750. Thirteen months ago, when the commission's report was published, that number stood at 867. That it is now 100 less than it was 13 months ago shows that the haemorrhaging continues, despite the publication of the commission report. Since 2017, successive Governments have attempted to recruit their way out of the retention crisis and that has been an abysmal failure to say the least. Earlier this month, a graduation class for 2022 saw 11 people pass out. The net result of the recruitment and retention crisis is complete burn-out.

The Minister has said he wants to implement the working time directive as quickly as possible. I am told that exemptions from the working time directive are being looked at in 13 areas. Can the Minister confirm that naval patrols are one of the areas being looked at for an exemption from the directive?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are acutely aware of the situation facing the Naval Service with respect to staff numbers. A number of initiatives have been taken, including increasing the pay rates significantly compared with previous rates. Current pay rates in the first three years of service, including military service allowances, for the rank of private, three-star able seaman start at €37,147 in year 1 and rise to €38,544 in year 2 and close to €40,000 in year 3 of service. On commissioning, graduate cadets starts on a pay scale, which includes military service allowance, that ranges from €46,406 to €54,696 depending on the type of appointment. School-leaver cadets start at €41,123 while in full-time education. These rates compare favourably with the starting pay in other areas of the public service. That must be said and at some stage it must also be acknowledged. Much more needs to be done and we are doing that as well in looking at allowances and so on.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister outlined some of the measures that have been implemented. People are voting with their feet and continuing to leave. The one area that can and should be addressed is the full implementation of the working time directive. I ask the Minister again what exemptions are being looked at. Are naval patrols one of the areas being considered for an exemption? If so, it will only see a continuation of the haemorrhaging of members of the Naval Service. We should be trying to stop that and giving people incentives to stay in the Naval Service.

In the first two months of this year alone, we have seen the cancellation of 24 naval patrols. Two ships are tied up. They are mothballed. What is the economic loss to the State? Has an assessment been carried out on our fisheries, an area worth millions of euro to the economy? What assessment has been done of drug interception? What assessment has been done of the loss of potential investment relating to the failure to secure our data cables, in a scenario where 99% of transcontinental cables pass through Irish waters? Have assessments of those three critical areas been carried out because of the failure to address the crisis?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have made it clear I want the working time directive to be introduced. A conciliation arbitration facility is in place in which engagement and discussions with the representative organisations are taking place. That is the forum where these issues will be resolved and they need to be resolved. I will not engage in a megaphone approach to those discussions. They must be resolved in the forum in which they are currently being discussed. I have made it clear since becoming Minister for Defence that this is something I want to see happen. A military management position has been put forward which took some time to be formulated. It is available. Discussions are taking place. We want those discussions to be brought to resolution quickly and I will take decisions on this if the discussions drag on too long. I am clear that I want to see these negotiations brought to a conclusion quickly and for the organisation of working time directive to be implemented.

As regards economic analysis and assessment, there is no evidence of any economic damage in respect of the issues the Deputy identified.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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Has an assessment been done?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The sea cables relate to a much broader issue that involves other colleagues.