Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

He has introduced revised pay scales for general service recruits and privates. These initiatives have been implemented. Newly qualified three-star privates and their Naval Service equivalents will see an increase in their pay to €27,000, representing an increase of over €5,000.

The Minister of State has also announced a range of measures relating to contracts, promotions and the working time directive, aimed at further increasing the attractiveness of the Defence Forces as a career option, as the Senator knows well from his engagement with him. It was the Minister of State who got Cabinet approval for ongoing, evolving recruitment of naval and defence personnel.