Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Unlike other areas of the Public Service, and due to the nature of the duties performed, overtime payments are not available to members of the Defence Forces. Comparisons with other areas of the Public Service must be cognisant of the unique role, structure, duties and working conditions of service, which are particularly unique to military personnel.

The non-standard time and attendance patterns of military personnel and the rates of remuneration associated with a wide spectrum of duties undertaken by such personnel can vary across the different branches of the Defence Forces.

In that regard a Military Service Allowance, which is designed to compensate for the special disadvantages associated with military life including long and unsocial hours, is paid to all ranks up to the level of Colonel. Military Service Allowance is counted for pensionable purposes.

It is of course also the case that in addition to basic pay and military service allowance, certain positions in the Defence Forces also attract specialist and technical pay and that a range of duties also attract additional allowances. These duty based allowances are not analogous to overtime as such payments are in addition to basic pay and MSA and are related to the duties undertaken.

I would also like to highlight that in instances where members of the Defence Forces acquire technical qualifications and/or fill associated appointments, there is associated technical pay. Defence Force personnel also receive tax free payments for certain overseas deployments and duties. Furthermore, Defence Force personnel 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.

I am further advised that the Defence Forces have carried out a feasibility study for the purpose of introducing a time and attendance system for their members, and that a Defence Forces Working Group has been established to examine options for capturing Time & Attendance details on the extant Defence Forces Personnel Management System (PMS) software which contains information on the range, type and quantity of duties performed by PDF personnel. This informs the calculation of remuneration for individual members.