Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his attendance at a conference (details supplied) in May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28138/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was a great honour to be given the opportunity, once again, to attend and speak at PDFORRA's Annual Delegate Conference (ADC) on 15 May last, at the Slieve Russel Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.

At this conference I had the opportunity to address delegates on a number of key issues currently facing the Defence Forces, whilst acknowledging a wide range of improvements that have been made, over the last year, with regard to pay and conditions. I further outlined to delegates that a key priority for me, as Minister for Defence, is to improve the levels of recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces.

I outlined how significant progress has been made in this area, to include implementation of the Commission on the Defence Forces recommendations concerning pay structures, including:

• Removal of the requirement for a Private 3 Star/Able Seaman to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank (as detailed above in terms starting pay rates);
• Payment of the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank of all Private 3 Star/Able Seaman personnel.