Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My colleague, Senator Craughwell, proposed an amendment to the Order of Business relating to the publication of the Public Service Pay Commission report. As the defence spokesperson for Fianna Fáil, I fully agree that this report is long overdue and should be published as a matter of urgency. However, Senator Craughwell is correct that we need the Taoiseach, who is personally responsible for the Defence Forces, to attend, not the Minister of State. This is too serious an issue. I ask the Deputy Leader that within the next week, and certainly before the summer recess, the Taoiseach should come to the House and outline the contents of this report which I believe and agree should be published. Morale is at an all-time low within the Defence Forces and it is time that their concerns about pay, conditions and allowances are dealt with urgently. It is long overdue but I think that we should wait until the Taoiseach is available to come in here himself. Frankly, the Minister of State is not acceptable to me as the defence spokesperson. He is the Minister of State but we need the man who has the responsibility to come in here and answer questions when he is available.