Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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17. To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the promised review of pay and remuneration for the Defence Forces; and if improvements are likely in the near future. [1208/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2013 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (Haddington Road Agreement) define current pay policy. In the Haddington Road Agreement the Government reaffirmed its commitment that public service pay and any related issues will not be revisited over the lifetime of the Agreement, subject to compliance with the terms of the Agreement. Crucially, there was no cut to the basic pay of any enlisted personnel under that Agreement. I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Government Decision on the Department of Expenditure and Reform’s Review of Allowances and Premium Payments which recognised that there are possible weaknesses in the pay structures applicable in the Defence Forces as these structures have evolved over very many years and have become increasingly complex. It was therefore decided that a review of the overall pay structures for the Defence Forces is merited, in the medium term, to ensure that the pay structure is appropriate and cost effective for a modern military force.

It is my intention that such a review of pay structures will take place after the reviews of Security Duty Allowance and Technical Pay, currently being conducted as part of the Defence Sector Action Plan under the Croke Park Agreement, have been completed.

It is of course also open to the Representative Associations of the members of the PDF, subject to the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme and the Haddington Road Agreement, to avail of the mechanisms in place should they wish to pursue any particular concerns in relation to the pay and conditions of their members.