Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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295. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the inability of the Defence Forces to retain highly skilled, motivated loyal military personnel of all ranks due to pay, allowances and contracts not fit for purpose. [34699/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are many reasons why individuals may leave the Defence Forces ranging from individual personal circumstances, other career opportunities, having fulfilled their contract or retirement on age grounds. The Defence Forces offer significant career opportunities and whilst pay has been highlighted as an issue, there has been significant progress in recent years.

Public Service pay policy is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform having regard to Public Sector Pay Agreements. The Department of Defence does not have discretion to award separate pay increases.

The Defence Forces have received pay increases in line with the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, the most recent of which was a 2% increase on annualised salaries from 1^stOctober 2020.

The restoration of the 5% cut in allowances imposed under the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation, was also restored from 1st October 2020.

In addition to the general round of pay increases awarded to public servants, members of the Permanent Defence Force have also benefitted from the implementation of increases in Defence Forces allowances as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission. These included:

- a 10% increase in military service allowance,

- the restoration of a 10% cut applied to a number of Defence Forces allowances under the Haddington Road Pay Agreement

- the restoration of premium rates for weekend security duty allowances.

- the restoration of a service commitment scheme for pilots.

The introduction of a new sea-going service commitment scheme for Naval Service personnel came into effect from 1^stJanuary 2021, is aimed at retaining highly trained and experienced personnel and incentivising sea going duties.

A sea going naval personnel tax credit of €1,270 was applied in the 2020 tax year for members of the Naval Service who served 80 days or more at sea on board a naval vessel in 2019. This tax credit has been extended for a further year and is increased to €1,500 for the 2021 tax year.

Negotiations on a new public service agreement were held in late 2020 with public service trade unions and representative associations. A new agreement ‘Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022’ has subsequently been ratified by the overwhelming majority of public sector unions. The Permanent Defence Force representative associations have yet to ballot their members and accordingly advise the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) of formal acceptance, or otherwise, of this agreement.

The agreement provides for further increases in pay to all public servants including members of the Defence Forces should the Representative Associations advise the WRC of formal acceptance of the agreement.

- A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on October 2021.

- The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund, in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Agreement, on 1 February 2022.

- A general round increase in annualised basic salaries for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater on, 1 October 2022.

The Government remains fully committed to addressing pay and conditions in the Defence Forces and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. This provided for the establishment of a Commission on the Defence Forces, which was established on the 15^thDecember 2020 and completion of the Commissions work, I will consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the establishment of a a permanent pay review body for the Defence Forces.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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296. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the way to reduce the vulnerabilities in Ireland’s military force with the new global threats to cyber-security. [34700/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My colleague Minister Ryan, as Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, retains overall responsibility for cyber security at a national level but, of course, the response to cyber threats is a whole-of-Government challenge with inputs in the security domain from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.

As we have seen with the cyberattack on the HSE, cyber security is an issue we all need to be concerned about. For national security reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the nature of the HSE cyberattack at this time, it does illustrate how vital it is that we take cyber security issues very seriously.

Ireland ranks among the leading EU Member States in terms of the uptake and use of digital technologies. These technologies play a central role in supporting our economic and social life. Our geographic position, our open economy and our EU membership means that we now host a large amount of data and economic activity. COVID-19 also means that people are relying on technology more than ever to stay connected. The development of the Information and Communications Technology that support all this activity introduces a new set of complex and evolving risks. Infrastructure of any kind attached to the Internet is vulnerable to threats from anywhere on Earth.

Disruption to our digital assets and critical infrastructure brings significant economic costs and undermines trust and confidence in them. Threats emanate from both individuals and Nation States and can also have national security implications.

It is vital that we work closely with our partners in the European Union on cyber security issues and so I welcome the proposal made last week by the European Commission to build a new Joint Cyber Unit to tackle the rising number of serious cyber incidents impacting public services as well as the life of businesses and citizens across the EU. The proposed Joint Cyber Unit represents an opportunity to bring together cybersecurity communities including civilian, law enforcement, diplomatic and cyber defence communities. We in the Government will be examining this proposal in depth since, while Ireland welcomes it, it does represent a potentially very substantial requirement for additional resourcing, both in terms of financial resources and skillsets, on behalf of Member States.

Another recent positive development at the international level is that G7 Members have put ransomware on the global agenda. Given the threat presented by ransomware, it is clear that a coordinated response will be necessary, between Governments and with other relevant stakeholders including the private sector, academics and civil society.

I would also like to highlight that a very important debate is taking place this week at the United Nations Security Council today on maintaining international peace and security in cyberspace. The Taoiseach is representing Ireland at this event.

While the primary role of the Defence Forces with regard to Cyber Security relates to the defence and security of its own networks and systems, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are committed to participating, under the leadership of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, in the delivery of measures to improve the Cyber Security of the State. This is being done in line with the Programme for Government commitment to implement the National Cyber Security Strategy, recognizing the potential and important role of the Defence Forces.

That is why officials in my Department and members of the Defence Forces work so closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and other Government Departments and Agencies to support measures to deal with these challenges. I would also like to highlight that a member of the Defence Forces is currently seconded to the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia. The Centre is involved in carrying out cyber-defence focused training awareness campaigns, workshops, and courses and developing and conducting cyber defence-focused exercises.

Finally, I would note that the establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces underpins the Government's commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces are fit for purpose, both in terms of meeting immediate requirements and also in terms of seeking to develop a longer term vision beyond 2030. Amongst the issues that the Commission is examining are Defence Force capabilities, structures and staffing in a number of areas. I expect that a report will be produced for consideration by Government before the end of the year.