Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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751. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has published the University of Limerick focus group report on the Defence Forces in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42265/17]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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752. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps he has taken in relation to addressing the negative findings of the focus group report on the Defence Forces in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42266/17]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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753. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has met with the representative associations in September 2017 in response to the focus group report findings on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42267/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take questions numbers 751 to 753, inclusive, together.

The report referred to by the Deputy was published on my Department’s website on 20 July 2017. The report is a follow up to the first phase of the Climate Study and it further explores the issues raised in the original survey. I was briefed on the Report at the end of June and I met with the Representative Associations on the 13^thJuly 2017, ahead of its official publication.

I tasked civil and military management with examining the report and identifying those issues which are priorities. While work to progress many of the issues was already underway as part of the implementation of the White Paper on Defence, I have directed that certain White Paper projects be brought forward and that work commence on these immediately.

I have directed civil and military management to initiate a broader view of contracts for enlisted personnel and to bring forward recommendations for my consideration. I have also requested proposals in respect of retaining specialists, providing for re-entry and where appropriate, direct entry, for my consideration and I expect to be in receipt of these shortly.

In addition to the above, I have decided to initiate a review of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. This will commence by the end of 2017.

I did not meet with the Representative Associations in September, but I intend to meet them in the coming weeks to further discuss the issues raised in the climate survey.