The reality of a dramatic escalation in prices throughout the world has also hit Ireland. There is not a single person in this House who has denied this and no person can honestly say that the Government has failed to act, particularly to protect the most vulnerable. A total of €9 billion has been put in place in a range of measures to limit the impact of rising prices. The biggest single part of this has been direct aid for households. Through a mixture of significant permanent increases in payments, the expansion…

I thank the Deputy for the question. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable them to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. Two inshore patrol vessels were purchased for €26 million on a government-to-government basis from New Zealand to replace the now decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara . The ceremonial handover of the vessels took place in Auckland last week, representing the culmination of…

Deputy Clarke should acknowledge that the pay and conditions have improved significantly over the past two years, particularly for new recruits, and compare favourably with other employments and occupations. Those coming in after the leaving certificate enjoy a base rate of approximately €37,000. The basic pay has increased and there have been other improvements. There will be further improvements. The first priority is to recruit additional personnel into the Naval Service, Army and Air Corps. That is the overarch…

I will be bringing proposals in respect of that matter to the Government shortly. I have met the flag officer and visited Haulbowline. I met the Chief of Staff and his team in respect of recruitment and retention issues, more specifically in respect of the Naval Service because the numbers are not what they should be and need to be significantly increased. On pay and conditions, there are different categories right across the board. It depends on who is recruited and to what position people are recruited in terms o…

Neither the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces infantry group from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force nor the decision that the Defence Forces should participate in the next European Union battle group has any implications for Ireland's long-standing position of military neutrality. I note the Deputy did not explain how he has come to the view that it does. At the time of the recent Government decision that the Defence Forces should join the EU battle group of 2024-25, the Government was advised t…

We have been involved in PESCO for years now and it has not impacted our military neutrality. Our military neutrality is defined by whether we are members of a military alliance and we are clearly not a member of a military alliance. We are not members of NATO and we do not participate in a European Union common defence pact; there is no such pact. I am at a loss to how the Deputy can suggest there is evidence that our military neutrality is being eroded. We have been part of the EU battle groups for quite some tim…

Successive Secretaries General of the United Nations have endorsed the development of the EU battle group concept and Ireland's participation in it. As I said, participation in EU battle groups supports the development of rapid deployment skills and capabilities within the Defence Forces and would improve interoperability with like-minded states. It ultimately assists us in participating in UN peacekeeping missions. Also, we have been part of the evolution of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy for the past 2…

That is the reality of the triple lock.

The triple lock is about a mandate from the UN Security Council. Putin is more interested in the Wagner Group being in Africa than a UN peacekeeping force being there. That is the reality so we need to discuss this issue without throwing around slogans and all of that.

The Government has previously acknowledged, as do I, the current staffing difficulties in the Naval Service, and the Defence Forces in general. In response to the specific challenges in the Naval Service, a comprehensive regeneration plan is being progressed and monitored by a high-level civil and military team. The aim of this plan is to address all of the issues, including human resource matters. The recent decision to place the LÉ Róisín and LÉ Niamh into operational reserve will assist in regeneration by priori…

We are acutely aware of the situation facing the Naval Service with respect to staff numbers. A number of initiatives have been taken, including increasing the pay rates significantly compared with previous rates. Current pay rates in the first three years of service, including military service allowances, for the rank of private, three-star able seaman start at €37,147 in year 1 and rise to €38,544 in year 2 and close to €40,000 in year 3 of service. On commissioning, graduate cadets starts on a pay scale, which i…

I have made it clear I want the working time directive to be introduced. A conciliation arbitration facility is in place in which engagement and discussions with the representative organisations are taking place. That is the forum where these issues will be resolved and they need to be resolved. I will not engage in a megaphone approach to those discussions. They must be resolved in the forum in which they are currently being discussed. I have made it clear since becoming Minister for Defence that this is something…

The sea cables relate to a much broader issue that involves other colleagues.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Without question, military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. For this reason, compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Force have historically been considerably lower than in other types of employment and that is certainly the case since 1994. In their report on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force in 2019, the P…

That policy emerged in the 1990s for different reasons and in a different context. The issue the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is concerned about is fast accrual pensions. I have had discussions with the Minister. An interdepartmental group is working on this matter because it applies across the board, not only to military personnel but potentially to all uniform services in the public service. That is the issue. I have asked for some interim measure and some have al…

No, it is not a stroke of a pen. As I said, it is an issue I am pursuing with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, but it has wider implications. It would not just apply to the Defence Forces. We must extend the age limits. That will involve discussions with others who will have issues regarding how that is done. It is not a stroke of a pen. It has wider implications. That said, I accept the Deputy's basic point. I do not see any reason someone who is 50 years of age, …

As the Deputy is aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU working time directive into Irish law. I assure the Deputy that the Government remains fully committed to ensuring the provisions of the working time directive are applied, where appropriate, to the Defence Forces. This is in line with the Government commitment to removing the blanket exemption in the 1997 Act for both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána. R…

To be fair to all concerned, it must be acknowledged that there have been improvements in pay, conditions and various allowances over the last two and a half years. That progress will continue. Unrelenting negativity being articulated all the time by the Defence Forces is not optimal either. There can be room for improvement, but there comes a time when we must affirm and promote the positive dimension of a career in the Defence Forces, as Deputy Fitzpatrick referenced. I spoke to my officials yesterday about the w…

Yes, I do. We have a timeframe within the Department. It is being discussed at the moment in the scheme.

We cannot discuss it across the floor of the House, if the representative organisations are in the discussion. I am making a legitimate point that we should facilitate and allow that to happen, but I will not allow it to drag on interminably. I will take action in respect of bringing a proposal to the Government. It then has to be legislated for and the legislating Department is the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. That is the point I was making. There are also broader issues related to recruitment a…