Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the post-1994 sergeants and petty officers who currently are facing forced discharge from the Defence Forces if their contracts are not addressed as a matter of urgency; when the matter will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48889/22]

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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82. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the contractual terms and conditions that will be used for sergeants over the age of 50 years who wish to remain in service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49048/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 82 together.

Arising from the recommendations in the report of the Public Service Pay Commission on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force, a joint civil/military review of barriers to extended participation in the Permanent Defence Force was conducted.

The review considered a number of matters including mandatory retirement ages and contracts of service. The recommendations arising from the review require consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to costs and pensions.

In December 2021, I secured agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, which allows for an extension in service limits for Privates and Corporals, who were recruited to the Permanent Defence Force since 1 January 1994, to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.

Currently, Sergeants recruited to the Permanent Defence Force post 1994 may remain in service up to age 50. The complexity surrounding any extension in service relates to the pension entitlements associated with the mandatory retirement age limits. To compensate for the fact that members of the Defence Force are required to retire at an age which is considerably lower than in other employments, there are arrangements in place for accelerated pension provisions, where pension and gratuity may be payable on retirement at age 50.

There has been extensive discussions on this matter between officials in the Department of Defence and officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform who have responsibility for public sector pension policy to establish the arrangements which would allow the Sergeants who are due to retire to serve for a further period.

I am fully aware that the individuals who are due to retire need clarity on the proposals as soon as possible. I am in contact with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on this matter and am determined to reach a conclusion on the matter very shortly.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there will be a strengthening of Ireland's maritime defences in view of recent events in the Baltic sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48993/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was published in February 2022. It is a substantial report running to over 180 pages and 69 main recommendations many of which have sub recommendations. It recommends significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

On the 12^thJuly 2022, government approval was given for a range of actions flowing from the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces. There are a number of recommendations in relation to maritime security contained within the report and the High Level Action Plan (HLAP) for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces sets out the response of Government in relation to each recommendation: Accept, Accept in Principal, Further Evaluation or Revert. Some of the maritime recommendations which have been accepted or accepted in principle by the Government include;

- An accelerated programme of Naval vessel replacement to ensure a balanced fleet of nine modern ships by early in the next decade;

- That all modern vessels be double crewed to ensure each vessel spends an absolute minimum of 220 days at sea per year, with this being phased in over the course of the vessel replacement programme;

- Providing immediate access to the Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme to direct entry personnel in the Navy;

- Ireland should deepen its engagement with the implementation of the EU’s Maritime Security Strategy.

One of the early actions identified in the High Level Action Plan is to progress the commencement of the Strategic Defence Review which will look at defence policy across all domains and inform future capability requirements.