Seanad debates

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Naval Service Deployment: Statements

 

10:30 am

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was annoyed by Senator Craughwell's statement that the Irish Naval Service does not have the capacity to operate in this mission. That is a matter for the Naval Service and its Chief of Staff. If the service does not have the capacity to operate in the mission the Chief of Staff would inform me of that. I met him as recently as two hours ago and he reassured me that the Naval Service has the capacity to carry out this mission. If Senator Craughwell had concerns he should have raised them with me on one of the many occasions I have met him in Leinster House over the past two days. I reiterate the Naval Service has the capacity to partake in this operation. I have been assured by the staff of the Defence Forces that it has the capacity to meet the demands of this operation.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of pay and he said that members have approached him asking for food parcels. If any Member of this House or the Lower House has been approached and told by members of the Defence Forces that they are unable to put food in their table they should bring that to my attention. As a public representative and as Minister of State, it is my job to address such matters. As I have said previously in debates on the Defence Forces, it is my responsibility as Minister of State with responsibility for defence to look after the personnel of the Defence Forces.

Since last March, PDFORRA members have accepted the terms of the Lansdowne Road agreement. All of its members are now benefitting from salary increases. The benefits which have begun to accrue include an increase of 2.5% from 1 January 2016 in respect of annualised salaries of up to €24,000 and a 1% increase for annualised salaries of between €24,001 to €31,000. This was backdated to 1 January 2016. Next week, an increase of €1,000 from 1 April 2017 on an annualised salary of up to €65,000 per annum will be paid. This amounts to an additional €19 gross per week. This means that privates who have completed their 29 weeks training and are in the first year of service will benefit to the tune of €1,500 gross per annum.

Officers represented by RACO earning below €65,000 gross per annum have already received this increase. A revised pay scale has been agreed for general service recruits and privates who joined the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 2013. These revised payscales include the Lansdowne Road agreement increases. This will result in increases in gross pay for general service recruits of more than €38 per week in respect of their 17 weeks of training and in the region of €78 gross pay per week for private 2 star in their 12 weeks of training. The combination of revised gross pay and military service allowance for private 3 star will result in an increase of between €2,000 to €6,000 per annum, depending on the point at which they are on the salary scale. The revised pay scales will be applied in the coming weeks and will be backdated to 1 July 2016. This will benefit some 1,300 members of the Permanent Defence Force in the Irish Defence Forces.

The extended Lansdowne Road agreement has yet to be approved by members of the representative organisations, who I was supposed to meet this evening at 6 p.m. However, it is important that as Minister of State I remain here to outline to the House the further benefits provided under the extended Lansdowne Road agreement, including increases ranging from 6.75% to 7.25% over the duration of the agreement in respect of salaries up to €32,000. As I said, this agreement is under consideration by the representative organisations.

The issue of the recent climate survey was also raised. I am happy to return to the House at a later date to listen to and address the concerns of members on this issue. I have previously had that debate with Members of this House, during which I outlined that the interests of the Irish Defence Forces is at the heart of everything I do in this area.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.