Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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30. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department will match the offers made by the Department of Justice and Equality to settle the Garda pay dispute to the representative organisations of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33822/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, 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 Deputy will be aware that the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2015 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement) currently define the pay policy for public servants.

The Deputy may be aware that PDFORRA (Representative Association) have yet to ballot their members in relation to the terms of thePublic Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement).

I am advised that PDFORRA raised a number of issues on which it sought clarification in advance of balloting its members on the agreement.  These are issues of interpretation and technical issues on the savings to be achieved through the agreement rather than substantive issues of principle.

I can confirm that PDFORRA members are complying fully with all of their obligations under the public service pay agreements and the commitments they entered into in those agreements.  PDFORRA has not repudiated the LRA.

Officials from my Department and PDFORRA are actively working through these issues in a very positive and collaborative process within the C&A Scheme which points to the effectiveness of the scheme as a dynamic process for resolving IR issues.

In terms of remuneration going forward, the new Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC), recently announced by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has been tasked with providing objective analysis and advice on the most appropriate pay levels for the public service, including the Defence Forces.

As the outstanding issues are currently being resolved within the Department of Defence Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.