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21 March 2018 Written Answers. The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised]. Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, answered orally. Questions Nos. 8 and 9 resubmitted. 21/03/2018WRA00500Cabinet Committee Meetings 21/03/2018WRA0060010. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee E (Health) will next meet. [11548/18] 21/03/2018WRA00700The Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee E (Health) is scheduled to meet on 11 April. 21/03/2018WRA00800Cabinet Committee Meetings 21/03/2018WRA0090011. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee F (National Secu- rity) will next meet. [11651/18] 21/03/2018WRA01000The Taoiseach: Arrangements are being made for the next meeting of Cabinet Committee F, will be finalised as soon as possible. The role of cabinet Committee F is “to keep the State’s systems for the analysis of, prepara- tion for, and response to, threats to national security under review and to provide for high-level coordination between relevant Departments and agencies on related matters”. The Committee last met on 8 February and was attended by Ministers and Senior Offi- cials from the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform; Foreign Affairs and Trade; Justice and Equality; Health; Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Transport, Tourism and Sport; Housing, Planning and Local Government; and Defence. Also in attendance were key personnel from the Defence Forces and an Garda Síochána. Questions Nos. 12 to 29, inclusive, resubmitted. Questions Nos. 30 to 37, inclusive, answered orally. Defence Forces Reports 21/03/2018WRA0130038. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to address the issues raised by the Kemmy report; and the timeframe for implementing same. [12954/18] 1 Questions - Written Answers 21/03/2018WRA01400Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The Defence Forces Climate Survey was commissioned on foot of a recommendation contained in the third and most recent Report of the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG) which was established to oversee the implementation of recommendations relating to harassment, bullying, discrimina- tion and sexual harassment within the Defence Forces. Follow up work to the initial findings in the Survey was conducted by the University of Limerick researchers via use of focus groups. The resulting report was published in July 2017 and further explored the issues raised in the original survey. The comments quoted therein cover a wide range of issues relating to human resources management. These include pay and con- ditions, vacancies, recruitment and retention, promotion systems, performance management, leadership, culture, morale, stress and work-life balance. The report pre-dated the significant improvements in pay that have taken place in the in- tervening period. Successful negotiations with the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations have provided for pay increases to Permanent Defence Force personnel under the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The finalisation of negotiations under the agreement allowed for the commencement of the process for the implementation of pay increases and arrears, which have now been applied to the Permanent Defence Force. An increase of 2.5% from 1 January 2016, for annualised sala- ries up to €24,000 and 1% for annualised salaries between €24,001 and €31,000 was paid in July 2017. An increase of €1,000 from 1 April 2017, on annualised salaries up to €65,000 per annum was also paid in July 2017. In addition, improved payscales for general service recruits and privates who joined the Per- manent Defence Force post 1 January 2013, were backdated to 1 July 2016 and paid in August 2017. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, contains proposals for further pay in- creases over the period of the agreement ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% with the benefits to weight- ed towards those on lower pay. The agreement also provides for the restoration of the 5% reduc- tion in allowances under FEMPI by the end of the Agreement. By the end of the agreement, the payscales for all public servants earning up to €70,000 will be restored to the levels that existed prior to the FEMPI legislation. The first increment under this agreement of 1% in annualised salaries due from 1 January 2018 has been paid to members of the PDF. There is ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces and a range of initiatives are being de- veloped including commissioning from the ranks, criteria for the re-entry of former Permanent Defence Force personnel with specific skills and consideration of increased use of direct entry for specialist posts. The Public Service Pay Commission will also be examining recruitment and retention issues in its next tranche of work. There is an ongoing programme of HR development within the Defence Organisation. As well as pay and recruitment, other issues highlighted in the Survey are being addressed. A num- ber of initiatives including a review of the criteria governing contracts of enlisted personnel and a comprehensive skills gap analysis across the Defence Forces have been announced. I also initiated a review of the C&A scheme which is underway. These directly address issues raised in the Survey. In tandem with these actions the Department is also engaged in planning on a longer term basis. Many of the recommendations arising from the Climate Survey have been captured in and will be progressed by White Paper projects. Projects arising from the White Paper on De- fence around topics such as medium term manpower planning and encouraging as wide a pool 2 21 March 2018 as possible for recruitment are already underway. With regard to other issues relating to human resource management highlighted in the Cli- mate Survey, there are extensive support systems currently in place for members of the Defence Forces. The Personnel Support Service is available to provide information, assistance and coun- selling on a range of matters including interpersonal problems and stress. Questions Nos. 39 to 41, inclusive, answered orally. Question No. 42 answered with Question No. 39. 21/03/2018WRA01700Defence Forces Data 21/03/2018WRA0180043. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Permanent Defence Forces personnel expected to serve on UN-led missions in 2018; the loca- tions of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10381/18] 21/03/2018WRA0190060. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Permanent Defence Forces personnel serving in UN-led missions; the location of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10380/18] 21/03/2018WRA02000Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Deputy Paul Kehoe): I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 60 together. As of 1 March 2018, Ireland is contributing 586 Defence Forces personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations. The United Nations missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 377 personnel, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 135 personnel, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in Israel and Syria with 12 personnel, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) with 3 personnel and the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with 4 personnel. The 377 personnel in UNIFIL serve alongside Finnish Armed Forces as a part of a joint battalion of which Ireland took over command in November 2016. As a consequence of tak- ing over command, an additional Company of some 150 personnel were deployed as part of Ireland’s contribution to this mission. Ireland has a long and continuous record of contributing to peacekeeping missions. Partici- pation in these missions demonstrates Ireland’s strong support for the role of the United Nations in international peacekeeping. The current contribution of some 586 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in this area. The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces person- nel overseas. With regard to any future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. At the Government Meeting on 27 February 2018, I secured approval for the deployment in 2018 of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to serve once again as part of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy naval mission in the Mediterranean, Operation So- 3 Questions - Written Answers phia. Arrangements are currently being made for two Irish naval vessels to deploy consecu- tively under rotation for a period of approximately 32 weeks in total. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement below and will be circulated with the Official Report. MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS AS OF 1 MARCH 2018 UN MISSIONS Amount UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQUNIFIL 111th Infantry Battal- 303398 ionUNIFIL Sector West HQ UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria 12 MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the
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