Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his attendance at the RACO conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52895/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I wish to begin by extending my thanks to the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) for their invitation to attend and address their biennial conference and for making the necessary arrangements.

I have met with officials from RACO a number of times this year and am aware of the various matters which are currently concerning their members.

The conference afforded me the opportunity for further engagement with individual members and their Executive.

In the course of my address to the delegates assembled at the conference, I acknowledged the challenges facing the Defence Forces and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to maximising recruitment to the Defence Forces and ensuring that, where possible, the terms and conditions of service are appropriate to the needs of the organisation and, as favourable as they can be within the current budgetary parameters.

I advised delegates that I am aware that their Association has particular views in regard to the availability of Officers within Units. I have directed that a White Paper project to consider skills gaps across the entirety of the Defence Forces, be brought forward and commenced. This will provide an opportunity not only to fully identify and prioritise skills gaps, but to identify how any gaps can be addressed. Operational demands, personnel requirements, consideration of work practices, and approaches to training and education must all be considered.

I advised the delegates that I had listened to the concerns raised by their representatives in relation to the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. I reiterated my intention to initiate a review of the scheme. This will be conducted in the course of 2018.