On the pay front, very significant progress has been made, in particular on starting pay. As I said, the extension of private secondary health care and other allowances have been worked on. We will continue to try to improve the overall situation in terms of the remuneration package that Defence Forces personnel receive. The minimum for trained personnel comprises basic pay and military service allowances. That should not be missed in any calculations that are being made. The starting pay is now comparable, if not …

There are a number of measures, such as pay and so on. A new integrated multidisciplinary state-of-the-art training centre is being developed in Gormanston where all recruits, be they Air Corps, Navy or Army, will be together. We have more to do in that regard. I am confident that with the continued investment we are committed to, we can significantly improve the situation. There is huge choice out there in the economy at the moment. The unemployment rate is below 4%. We are working with the Defence Forces and impr…

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As he will be aware, the Government agreed to establish the external oversight body of the Defence Forces on a non-statutory basis initially, in line with one of the 13 recommendations of the independent review group on dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces published on 28 March. The Government moved quickly to establish the body, making the following appointments on 5 April: Professor Brian MacCraith as the independent chair, Ms Josephine Feehily, Ms Patricia K…

The appointment of the external oversight group was a recommendation of the IRG. We implemented it exactly in line with the recommendation of the group. The report was welcomed in the House for its shocking, but very clear, presentation of the issues facing the Defence Forces and the experiences of the many people it met. The Government has to have the capacity to move and implement recommendations, in particular in terms of a body such as this. We were very determined, because before the report was published all t…

It is an external oversight body in respect of the Defence Forces. It would not be appropriate to have a member of the Defence Forces there. That is not casting aspersions on anybody or any organisation. I regret the focus from the military community in respect of the fact the Secretary General of the Department is part of it. That is not fair or reasonable. There is a logic to it, by the way. As someone who has experienced this in government for quite a long time and at different times in my political career, I un…

As I am sure the Deputy will be aware, I am currently progressing a comprehensive programme of actions to address the extremely serious issues identified in the independent review group report. As I said in my initial response to the report, a completely honest appraisal of the problems and a comprehensive plan to address them is the only way to honour the contribution of serving and retired personnel and rebuild trust. Most immediately, I obtained Government approval to establish the external oversight body, on a …

Before the report of the independent review group was published, the Opposition in this House and people were asking me whether I would implement the recommendations in full. I have not deviated from the recommendation in respect of the oversight group. The criticisms are unfair. They are not reasonable and are very unfair on the Secretary General. To compare it to the situation of the bishop in a diocese is especially unfair and does not bear comparison. I have engaged with the Women of Honour group on this and I …

It is not just the Women of Honour.

There was consultation, and the consultation is ongoing. When we had a meeting, on the terms of reference, we presented a basic draft - I emphasise "draft" - terms of reference, which is reasonable as a starting point in terms of discussions with group. The meeting was quite amicable. The press statement afterwards surprised me given the nature of the discussion we had. I have tremendous respect for the Women of Honour and those who courageously came forward. With regard to the establishment of a statutory inquiry,…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the Permanent Defence Force provides a significant level of single living accommodation for serving personnel, where this accommodation is required by personnel for training and operations duties. There are in excess of 4,500 places currently within all the military installations. I am pleased to be able to update the Deputies on the significant investments we are making in improving the Defence Forces built infrastructure, particula…

Significant investment is under way in the accommodation. On the precise use of that accommodation, currently it is, for training and operational reasons, tied to work, etc. Historically, there was what we would call "tied" housing within the military where housing was provided. It was known then as tied housing provision. In the early 1990s, the discontinuance of that started for a number of reasons and it was done on a gradual basis to minimise disruption to families, personnel, etc. Since then, the focus has bee…

There is such a plan. There is a yearly programme. For example, the following accommodation projects at a cost of €37 million will progress during 2023 and 2024 providing 365 beds: Collins Barracks, a new accommodation block; the upgrade of the former USAC building in Renmore; the refurbishment of block 4, Haulbowline; the refurbishment of block 1, Collins Barracks; the refurbishment of Stephens' block C, Kilkenny; and Gormanston Camp, new accommodation block. Since the infrastructure development plan, IDP, in Janu…

I would be happy to do so. I outlined quite a number of the plans already. We are looking at about 588 beds between what has happened and the following projects, which are at various stages of design development. In Cork there will be 186 beds between Collins Barracks and Haulbowline. Those are on their way at the moment. I have seen the work myself. There will be 48 beds in Kilkenny, 100 beds in Gormanston, 172 in the Defence Forces Training Centre, DFTC, 13 in Cathal Brugha Barracks and 69 in Renmore. If any pers…

That is the intention. We have to get this project up and running first but it is going well. I have also asked for more single en-suite provision, although not in all cases. We will upgrade the quality of the facilities that are being provided. The Haulbowline facilities are worth a visit but again there could have been some improvements there and full equality from a gender perspective in terms of what is provided. There is constant upgrading of the quality of the accommodation going on but I stress that in the i…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 34 and 35 together. The consultative forum will take place in three different locations over four days at the end of June, on 22 June at University College Cork, on 23 June at the University of Galway, and on 26 and 27 June at Dublin Castle. In line with similar national processes, an independent chairperson was selected to chair the consultative forum on international security policy. The chair was appointed having regard to the remit of the consultative forum and, consequently…

Ireland has been part of the Common Security and Defence Policy for well over 20 years. We always opted in; we did not opt out. Denmark recently had a referendum to opt in, having stayed out for over two decades. We have been a partner for peace with NATO since 1999 and have been involved in a number of projects in that context. That is an individually tailored programme where given states that are not members of NATO may seek expertise and support in some areas. We have been members of the permanent structured co-…

When I suggested a citizens' assembly, Deputy Murphy was against it.

Oh yes you were.

You were. Through the Chair, the Deputy was against any discussion about this.

Through the Chair, the Deputy was against any discussion about this because his view and that of Deputies Barry and Boyd Barrett is to have no discussion.