Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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95. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the regulations and legislation that governs the rates of pay for members of the Reserve Defence Force; the regulations or legislation that implements a 10% cut compared to the equivalent Permanent Defence Force pay rates; the date such regulation or legislation implementing the cuts was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37379/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The provisions for pay and allowances for both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) are set out in Defence Force Regulation S.3.  

The rates of pay for members of the RDF is calculated in line with the rates of pay for members of the PDF. As per Defence Force Regulations, the rate of pay for the RDF is linked with first point of the scale of the rate of pay for the PDF.

 Prior to the Financial Emergency, the pay scales applying to the PDF also applied to the RDF. Under FEMPI measures, the pay cuts that applied to the PDF also applied to the RDF. An additional 10% reduction applied to the rate of paid training for members of the RDF, as per the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) – 2013-2016 (Haddington Road Agreement) in May 2013.

The restoration of pay for Public Servants, including for members of the Defence Forces, has been conducted in accordance with PSSA 2013 - 2018 and PSSA 2018 – 2020, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. However, the additional 10% reduction under the Haddington Road Agreement is not included in these restorations. This matter is currently under consideration.

Notwithstanding this, I note that, as members of the PDF continue to contribute to the Government’s response to the current COVID 19 response, some members of the RDF who have skills required in that response, and whose personal circumstances have allowed them to do so, have undertaken authorised tasks on a voluntary basis, in support of the PDF. RDF members voluntarily involved in such activities receive the equivalent rates of pay as PDF personnel.