Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister back to the House this evening. He was here previously for discussions on Defence Forces matters but this is our first opportunity to discuss this important report. I thank him for making himself available to us this evening. I also thank those involved in producing the report, including the chairman and all those who were on the committee. That is important to say. They devoted some valuable time and input to preparing this report. It is only right to acknowledge that here when we get the opportunity.

When the report was published, the Minister described it as a watershed for our Defence Forces. For the future of our Defence Forces families, it must be considered as so. Most important, this report must result in the action that our neutrality demands and our Defence Forces urgently need at this time. There has been much talk or chat about our neutrality since the report was published. The Minister mentioned this in his introduction. The issue has featured even more since the legal invasion of the sovereign lands of Ukraine by Russia. Being militarily neutral should not be confused with military impotence. I agree with my colleague Deputy Howlin, who, in a similar debate on this report, in February in the Lower House, stated neutrality is a truly important principle that I believe commands the majority support of our people, but we need to define what we mean by it and to truly invest in it.

The report presents us with a number of levels of ambition. The first, of course, is a do-nothing ambition, which is simply not good enough and would in the short term have dire consequences for our ongoing commitments to overseas peace missions. Most important, it would, in the opinion of many, decimate Defence Forces that are already under pressure. Such a lack of ambition is not what the vast majority in this country want for our Defence Forces and country. We should be more willing to accept ambition 2 or a more Irish-State-focused ambition 2. This must be the starting point on ambition for the Defence Forces' future. However, any ambition 2 or level of ambition 2, LOA2, must have at its core those who serve and their families. We must ensure that those who serve are truly valued by providing decent wages and conditions. For me, it is finally time to tackle the accommodation needs of those who serve and their families.

As I said in this House last week, our Defence Forces personnel cannot continue to live on promises and reports. It was in this context and with further worry that I read a report by Conor Gallagher in last Saturday's edition of The Irish Times. It opened with the words, "An entire class of Naval Service apprentices is leaving at the same time after a private company bought out their contracts, a sign of the worsening retention crisis in the Defence Forces." The article quotes the president of PDFORRA, Mark Keane: "In this case, PDFORRA is aware that members have paid sums in excess of €25,000 to leave the Defence Forces." He also stated, "The loss of these personnel will have long-term planning implications for the Naval Service due to the lead-in time necessary to qualify personnel and this will have multiple knock-on effects on service delivery." He added, "Defence Forces personnel are deciding to leave due to various factors, including pay, allowances and the failure to apply the working time directive."

I am informed that another Naval Service ship is gone out of service until next year, leaving the Naval Service with just four operational vessels. Serving naval numbers are now below 800. With a further 30 go by the month's end, as I am informed, the Minister must let us know tonight why the improved seagoing allowance has not yet been implemented. What are his plans to address the exodus?