Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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363. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the Defence Forces are having serious difficulties with the retention of personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47620/21]

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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365. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current plans for new recruitment for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47622/21]

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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366. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47623/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 363, 365 and 366 together.

As at 31st August 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 8,550 personnel. The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel and significant work continues in order to restore the PDF to its full capacity.

Personnel leave the Permanent Defence Force for a number of reasons including on age grounds, at the end of contract and voluntary discharges. More than 50% of those who leave the Defence Forces do so with some form of pension. This can make taking up a position in the private sector very attractive where a full-time position, even at the same rates as those in the Defence Forces, could lead to an increase in an individual’s earnings.

In that context, I have fully acknowledged the retention issues affecting both officers and enlisted personnel. A range of actions have been taken to address these issues which includes the 15 projects undertaken to facilitate the implementation of the PSPC Report on Recruitment and Retention. Most of these projects have been completed with others being considered in the context of wider public sector pay arrangements.

Other measures undertaken, aimed at retaining capacity, include two Commitment Schemes, one in the Air Corps which has had a stabilising effect on pilot numbers and one in the Naval Service to incentivise sea going duties. A sea going naval personnel tax credit has been extended for the 2021 tax year and has been increased to €1,500.

Recruitment in 2021 has resulted in 406 inductions as at 27th September. The current recruitment initiatives, complementing the above retention measures in countering current staffing challenges, include:

- Traditional recruitment is ongoing and further inductions are expected. This includes:

- Continuing General Service recruitment which, in October 2021, will result in 95 further recruits commencing training.

- The 2021 Cadet offers process, expected to conclude on 22^ndOctober.

- The scope of ongoing direct entry competitions remains under consideration and expanded in 2021 which, along with reviews of direct entry terms and conditions, will further improve intakes.

- The re-entry campaign for former members of the PDF continues and resulted in 1 re-commissioning officer and 28 re-enlisting personnel in 2021.

The Deputy will be aware that as part of the terms of reference of the Independent Commission on the Defence Forces, the Commission is considering appropriate recruitment and retention approaches, having regard to work undertaken to date and international best practice, to deliver the capabilities required of a modern military force. I look forward to receiving the Commission’s recommendations.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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364. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on pay and conditions in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47621/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Public Service pay policy is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform having regard to Public Sector Pay Agreements.

Similar to other sectors in the public service, Pay has been restored to members of the Defence Forces in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay.

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 1^stOctober 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 Force 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, which came into effect from 1^stJanuary 2021, is aimed at retaining highly trained and experienced personnel, while also incentivising sea going duties.

Furthermore, a sea going naval personnel tax credit of €1,270 was applied in 2020 for members of the Naval Service who served 80 days or more at sea 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. Following a ballot of their members the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, namely RACO and PDFORRA, formally notified the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) of their intention to comply with this agreement.

In return for ongoing reform and productivity measures the agreement provides for further increases in pay to all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces. This agreement includes the following increases:

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

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

Notably, all Defence Force personnel also receive three additional public holidays over and above the public sector norms. These additional holidays are specific only to members of the Permanent Defence Force.

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 permanent pay review body for the Defence Forces.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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367. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current measures that are in place to encourage more women to join the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47624/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve.

As of 31 August 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 8,550 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) personnel. Of this some 603 personnel or 7% were female, broken down as follows:

- Army: 492 Female Personnel

- Air Corps: 39 Female Personnel

- Naval Service: 72 Female Personnel

In line with current policies and commitments a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Permanent Defence Force. For example:

- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework.

- A Gender, Equality and Diversity Officer has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are committed to gender equality and employ a gender perspective in the planning and execution of operations both at home and overseas and in all policies and regulations. Gender Advisors are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote a gender perspective in operations.

- A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.

Over the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence, a number of projects will be progressed to encourage more women to apply for the Defence Forces and to increase female participation at all ranks.

In addition, 15 projects, undertaken to facilitate the implementation of the Public Service Pay Commission Report on Recruitment and Retention, are mostly completed.

I listened with concern to the women who recounted their experiences on the Women of Honour programme on RTÉ Radio on the 11 September 2021.

Last week, I met with participants from the Women of Honour group and with a group of serving female members of the Defence Forces, where I had the opportunity to listen carefully to their experiences, in what were very informative meetings. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the women, both former and serving members, for highlighting this serious matter and for taking the time to meet with me. Participants from the Women of Honour group met with the Secretary General and a senior official from my Department recently and I understand this was also a productive meeting.

It is clear to me, the Chief of Staff, and the Secretary General that there are very strong views that the culture that is pervading, and the application of the current policies, systems and procedures in place for dealing with bullying, harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault have not, and are not, serving all Defence Forces personnel well. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to anyone who has suffered during their time in the Defence Forces and to assure them that the State will carry out an Independent Review, which will be undertaken by external and entirely independent and unbiased experts in this field. This Review will examine the effectiveness of these policies, systems and procedures.

The terms of the Review, which are in the process of being finalised, are being reviewed in light of recent meetings with the Women of Honour group and with serving female personnel. Further engagement with the Women of Honour Group on the Terms of the Review is proposed. In addition engagement with other stakeholders, including with the Representative Associations, is also scheduled, and will additionally inform the terms.

In addition, I will be shortly announcing interim measures for the Defence Forces supporting Dignity in the Workplace which will be open to both serving and former members.

The Commission on Defence Forces established in December 2020, is due to report by end December 2021 and their views will additionally be an important aid to the Independent Review.

Finally, I wish to assure the Deputy that I, as Minister, and both the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General are fully committed to ensuring that each and every single member of the Defence Forces, both male and female, has the right to be treated with respect, equality and dignity and to carry out their duties in a safe workplace, underpinned by a culture of zero-tolerance for any kind of bullying, discrimination, or harassment.

The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities.