Dáil Éireann
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Vol. 977 Thursday, No. 6 17 January 2019 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 17/01/2019A00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 684 17/01/2019A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 684 17/01/2019A00300Defence Forces Remuneration � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 684 17/01/2019B00600Defence Forces Personnel � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 687 17/01/2019C00700Defence Forces Contracts � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 690 17/01/2019D00575Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 692 17/01/2019D00600Defence Forces Deployment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 692 17/01/2019E00350EU Directives � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 694 17/01/2019E01250Defence Forces Medical Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 696 17/01/2019G00400Defence Forces Expenditure� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 700 17/01/2019G01300Defence Forces Reserve � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 702 17/01/2019H00600Defence Forces Recruitment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 704 17/01/2019J00650Defence Forces Equipment� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 707 17/01/2019K00100Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 708 17/01/2019N00700Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 716 17/01/2019Q00100Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Mem- bers] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 724 17/01/2019R00100Promoting Cycling: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 726 17/01/2019T00200Rural Crime: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 734 17/01/2019T00800Nurses and Midwives: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 740 17/01/2019WW00200Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 798 17/01/2019WW00400Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 798 17/01/2019WW00500Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 798 17/01/2019YY00300Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Restoration of Birthright Citizenship) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Mem- bers] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 803 17/01/2019HHH00100Message from Business Committee � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 820 DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 17 Eanáir 2019 Thursday, 17 January 2019 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 17/01/2019A00100Ceisteanna - Questions 17/01/2019A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions 17/01/2019A00300Defence Forces Remuneration 17/01/2019A004001� Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Defence Forces management will be engaging directly with the Public Service Pay Commission in relation to recruitment and retention issues; if it is planned to filter engagement via his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter� [2190/19] 17/01/2019A005004� Deputy Michael Harty asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether poor pay and working conditions will drain the brightest and the best from the De- fences Forces� [2139/19] 17/01/2019A00600Deputy Jack Chambers: Will Defence Forces management, in particular the Chief of Staff, be allowed to engage directly with the Public Service Pay Commission, PSPC, on recruitment and retention issues or is it intended to filter engagement through the Department of Defence? As the Minister of State knows, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett has said he wants to engage di- rectly� I would welcome clarity on whether the Minister of State and his Department will allow and facilitate that direct engagement and how and when it will occur� 17/01/2019A00700Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Deputy Paul Kehoe): I propose to take Questions Nos� 1 and 4 together� Although I note that Deputy Harty is not present currently, I will answer his question� Simi- lar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was 684 17 January 2019 reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising the national finances during the financial crisis� Pay is being restored to members of the Defence Forces and other public servants in accordance with public sector pay agreements� The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018- 2020 provides for increases in pay ranging from 6�2% to 7�4% over the lifetime of the agree- ment, with the focus of these increases weighted in favour of those on lower pay� The increases due from 1 January 2018, 1 October 2018 and 1 January 2019 have been paid to Permanent Defence Force personnel� Further increases are scheduled for 2019 and 2020� By the end of the current public service pay agreement, the payscales of all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces, earning under €70,000 per annum will be restored to pre-FEMPI levels� The restoration of the 5% reduction to allowances cut under FEMPI is also scheduled as part of that agreement� New entrants who joined the Defence Forces since 2011 can also benefit from the measures that were recently announced in respect of interventions at points 4 and 8 of the relevant pay- scales for all such new entrants to the public service� This measure, should it be accepted by the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, will be effective from 1 March 2019. In accordance with the provisions of Public Services Stability Agreement 2018-2020, the Government has tasked the PSPC with conducting a more comprehensive examination of spe- cific recruitment and retention challenges in the defence sector. The PSPC requested specific data and statistics to assist in its analysis� This material was collated and prepared by civil and military personnel with inputs from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform� That Department co-ordinates the public service management response to the commission and it sent the Defence Forces material to it on 20 December 2018� The Department of Defence will continue to engage with the PSPC and respond to any specific query or follow-up request for information� It will also continue to work closely with the Defence Forces in this regard� The Deputy may wish to note that, arising from such requests, there has been direct engage- ment between the Defence Forces and the commission to facilitate the surveying of Defence Forces personnel� Should the PSPC wish to meet the defence management team, this would include civil and military representatives� I understand that the Department of Public Expendi- ture and Reform would also be represented� The commission’s work is ongoing and the Government will give due consideration to the findings and any recommendation that arise from that work. 17/01/2019A00800Deputy Jack Chambers: I will outline the timeline� Late last year, the Minister of State told me that both parties had signed off on a jointly agreed detailed submission to the PSPC. Today, he has told me that, if there is engagement in writing, military management may be al- lowed to engage with the PSPC� That is welcome� Since the Minister of State’s remark that a joint submission had been made, the Chief of Staff has said he is uniquely competent to make his public plea and to engage with the PSPC. He must be a differentiator from the defence perspective. He also uses different language from the Taoiseach, who in Mali recently insulted members of the Defence Forces by saying that it was not all about pay. The Chief of Staff has stated that there is an inextricable link between pay and being valued� There was considerable disgust with the Taoiseach’s remarks� On the one hand, he lauded the Defence Forces and their work in Mali - we all have great regard for that work - and, on the other, dismissed these pay concerns. It is important that