Defence Forces
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-09
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Helen McEntee (FG), Meath East

I thank the Deputy. I repeat what I have said on the floor of the House here but also when engaging with RACO and other members. I am committed to working with them in trying to advance not just pay but overall working conditions for members of the Defence Forces. If we want to achieve higher numbers, if we want to achieve a greater workforce design and if we want to expand our overall priorities, objectives and our overall capabilities then we need to make sure that we are looking at every aspect here. I have to work within the processes that are there, however. I have to work within the public sector pay agreement. I have to work within the structures that are there. Local bargaining is there and it is within the remit and the gift of the different representative groups to decide what they want to prioritise within that. We will work closely with them to try to make progress on this matter. I have no doubt that we will and that very soon we will be talking about the next public sector pay agreement and how we can see a greater level of increase across the board,.
In terms of the tribunal, I have to work within the legal parameters of the tribunal and it is only for the chair of the tribunal to decide where and when costs would be awarded. It is not a decision that I can take. I have relayed this directly to the Women of Honour but obviously a decision has been taken in the last few days by the judge and it is a matter for the judge in the tribunal to address those matters specifically and to respond to the request.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-09