Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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363. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to increase the pay of Defence forces personnel. [1233/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Rates of remuneration and conditions of employment in the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector. In this regard, the level of remuneration in the Defence sector has maintained relativity with the levels available in other related public sector employments. 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 the Agreement. Of the measures applying to the Defence Forces in the Haddington Road Agreement, the following may apply to enlisted personnel depending on their duties:

- Incorporation of duties attracting Technical Group 1 pay into standard duties for new enlisted personnel.

- Flat rating Security Duty Allowance and related payments at the standard weekday rate.

- A 10% Reduction in certain Defence Forces Allowances.

- Voluntary buyout of Border Duty Allowance for enlisted personnel.

- Implementation of additional incremental points in pay scales for new enlisted personnel post 01 July 2013.

The Deputy will be aware that a Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for members of the PDF provides a formal mechanism for the PDF Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the Official side. The purpose of the scheme is to provide a means for the determination of claims and proposals from the Associations relating to remuneration and conditions of service. Since 1993, there have been significant developments and improvements in the pay and conditions of military personnel. The Representative Associations have been to the fore in advancing the interests of their members in this regard, bringing them in line generally with the pay and conditions available in other public service employments.

It is of course 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.