Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to conduct an independent external review of the Defence Forces human resources management in view of the retention crisis in the organisation. [12147/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am satisfied that there is in place a suite of measures that provides a satisfactory framework within which matters relating to Human Resources in the Defence Forces can be addressed as needs arise.

The Government tasked the Public Pay Commission with examining challenges relating to recruitment and retention in the Defence Sector in more detail. The Public Service Pay Commission has commenced this work and I await the outcomes of their findings.

The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy agenda over a ten year period. It includes a broad programme of human resources development for which work is already underway on many projects.

In addition to the above, I meet with senior civil and military management on a frequent basis to discuss all matters relating to the Defence Forces.

There are currently no plans in place to conduct an independent external review.