We have the funding. The issue is converting applications into recruitment and then retaining people longer in our service. The policy decision I pushed very strongly for, and secured, was the raising of the retirement age to 60, which is quite a dramatic and significant change. We will even increase it to 62 when the legislation goes through the House. That is important for retention. I spoke informally yesterday at the PDFORRA conference, where people said to me that the doubling of the patrol duty allowance is a…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 21 together. The Government recently approved the terms of reference for a tribunal of inquiry, pursuant to the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921. The tribunal will examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces concerning workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and the use of hazardous chemicals within Air Corps headquarters at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. T…

We have indicated that the tribunal will be located in Smithfield. There were issues to discuss regarding legal representation, costs and so on. That is all sorted. I anticipate the commencement order being signed within the next fortnight. My officials will bring the commencement order for me to sign. It is normally the case that, once we appoint a chairperson, that chairperson organises the conduct of the tribunal and I do not see that changing in this instance. While parties will have entitlements to legal repre…

As I said in my previous reply, I expect to sign that commencement order within a fortnight, if not sooner. A tribunal has to do a lot of preparatory work before hearings are announced. That is normal and allows for people to make submissions and so forth. I do not anticipate any difference from the legal representation parties have had in previous tribunals of inquiry. A lot of progress has been made on staffing and on getting this up and running but a lot of preparatory work is required to get a tribunal of this …

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As he will know, in January 2022, the Government announced a Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. At Government level, the Department of Health has primary policy responsibility for this initiative, having received the consent of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as it was then. The payment is not subject to income tax, USC or PRSI. The Government announceme…

I will have a look at the situation again to satisfy myself as to how the process was conducted and I will revert then.

It was very challenging all round to demarcate those entitled to payments across all public services. A total of 717 Defence Forces personnel were deemed eligible and have been paid the full €1,000 pandemic recognition payment. It is not an inconsiderable number. Both Permanent Defence Forces representative associations on two separate occasions issued information circulars to their respective members requesting those who believe themselves eligible for the payment to engage with the joint task force. The Departmen…

I thank the Deputy, who has been strongly advocating for Athlone for this role for some time. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020, which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on 9 February 2022. The commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and defence …

I recall meeting the Deputy with councillors Keena and O'Rourke at Custume Barracks. We are investing in Custume Barracks in support of the personnel and operations there. Improvement works are ongoing, including the band hall. The Defence Forces school of music is based there, and that project, which is almost complete, provided an energy retrofit and refurbishment. The emergency aeromedical service operates from Custume Barracks. The project is to replace the unsuitable hangar with a new redeployable hangar that …

It is acknowledged we have to significantly improve recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. We have taken many decisions to facilitate that, not least the big recent decision to extend the retirement age to 60. That will be followed up with legislation to extend it to 62 and to improve the date at which people can apply, and raise that threshold also. There are various allowances and there has been a significant improvement in starting pay for members of the Defence Forces. It is a very comprehensive agend…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 43 and 51 together. Last year's consultative forum on international security policy featured a well-informed discussion on the issue of UN peacekeeping and overseas deployments, which formed a central part of the publicly available chair's report. That report was presented to the Government on 17 October and a Dáil debate on the outcomes of the report was held on 22 November last. Five contested areas were explored in the chair's report, which included the triple lock. The prevai…

Personal vitriol is not going to change my mind-----

Stop now. Through the Chair.

I behaved absolutely in accordance with parliamentary procedure and processes here. There is nothing abnormal about a Government proposing a legislative proposal, publishing a general scheme and bringing it before the House for debate for all Members of the House. The Bill will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. To address Deputy Howlin's question and the point he made, we envisage Dáil approval and Government approval-----

The Deputy can call it a double lock. I have said publicly that the legislation will have to be within the framework of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law and that the spirit, the esprit de corps , of the United Nations will inform any decision by the Government and the Dáil, which would legislatively reflect that. The UN has endorsed the utilisation of regional groups, be it the European Union, the OSCE or the African Union, in peacekeeping missions. These are potential fora in any decis…

Deputy Howlin agreed that the UN needs reform. There is a problem here.

The fundamental problem is that there has not been a peacekeeping mission approved by the UN Security Council since 2014. We are on that council. The consultative forum was not prearranged. What was disgraceful was the attempt to stop it from convening and the attempts to undermine the legitimate debate and consultation to hear a wide variety of views, as we did hear over four days. It was a good exercise but people in this House, including Deputy Connolly, tried to demonise it before it started and as it happened.…

The Deputy did demonise it.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 50 together. I thank the Deputy. I am aware he has raised this before. As he knows, the Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020 that agreed to its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on 9 February 2022. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the De…

I again thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The focus has obviously been on enhancing recruitment but I take on board what the Deputy has said about the physical quality of the barracks in Cavan. I will ensure his advocacy for the barracks as a forward operating base will be fed into the process. That is something I will do and I will revert to the Deputy.