I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that the health and well-being of our democracy is inextricably linked with the health and well-being of our Defence Forces. A recent study by the University of Limerick, Workplace Climate in the Defence Forces, which follows on from a study in 2015, illustrates a very worrying trend, pointing to a crisis in our Defence Forces, our Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. Morale is very low. The value system to which those in the Defence Forces once adhered is being steadily eroded. Stress is ever present. Work-life balance is an issue, as is the safety of personnel on duty. There are dysfunctional turnover levels according to the research. There is an absolute crisis regarding the retention of personnel, which is a serious issue for our Defence Forces.

Pay and conditions feature strongly in the research. As a subset of that, duty pay emerged as a particularly contentious issue. When commuting and child care costs are taken into account, it actually costs soldiers more to be on duty than they get paid. Officers commenting on the implications of pay levels said that pay is directly impacting on turnover levels of privates and that those with the most potential are leaving. That is a very significant cost in investment, training and so on. Some of the comments in the report highlight this. For example, in the context of the Air Corps, some of the following comments reflect the concerns of the enlisted ranks: "We are short 50% in a technical unit"; "We can't do things safely. We need to say no to outputs."; "We are double and triple jobbing. That would be illegal in the private sector"; "It keeps us up at night ... is this safe ... we are signing off on people who don't have experience". Members of the Naval Service said: "With the limited time and increasing workload we are only half doing jobs"; and "We were given an 8th ship but only have the number of people for 7".

As for the Army, there is a similar expression and articulation of issues around safety and so on. I raised last week the concerns of the wives and partners of Defence Forces personnel about lack of morale. All of this adds up to the need for a comprehensive response from Government to the wide range of issues facing the Defence Forces and the crisis they are in. It is not just about the Lansdowne Road agreement, but about much more in terms of the overall climate and conditions. It is important that a review emanates from Government.

I asked the Taoiseach two weeks ago about the need for access by RACO and PDFORRA to the industrial relations machinery of the State. The Taoiseach did not have an answer then. I would appreciate it if the Taoiseach would give me the Government's view about access for the Defence Forces' representative bodies to the industrial relations machinery. Finally, does the Taoiseach accept there is a crisis in the retention of personnel in our Defence Forces?

On behalf of the Government of Fine Gael and Independents, I note our immense respect and regard for the Defence Forces and our pride in the work they do whether as an aid to the civil power, the 2016 commemorations, ongoing commemorations such as Sunday's national day of commemoration and its work in the Mediterranean to combat human trafficking and rescue people from the boats that are leaving Libya. The Cabinet approved just this morning a decision to extend the mission in the Mediterranean to allow further participation in the Operation Sophia arrangements, as well as Operation Pontus in the Mediterranean. That will also, of course, require a resolution of the Dáil, which we propose will take place tomorrow. This is being done at the request of the Defence Forces, who want to do more and to continue to be part of the mission in the Mediterranean. They want to do more to rescue refugees and combat human trafficking. The approval of additional operations and the provision of resources to carry them out are testament to and evidence of the Government's commitment to our Defence Forces. It will, of course, happen under the triple lock. There is a UN mandate in place, Government approval issued today and we will ask the Dáil to approve the motion tomorrow. I hope we will have full support across the House for the decision.

Even during the darkest periods of the recession, the Government continued to recruit to our Defence Forces. Many more people apply to become members of the Defence Forces than we have places for. There is still real and huge demand for people to join the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, although there are, of course, difficulties in retaining people at certain levels. Pay is negotiated as part of collective agreements with public service trade unions and representative organisations, in this case PDFORRA and RACO. The weekly Defence Forces payroll of 5 July saw an increase of 2.5% from 1 January 2016 for annual salaries up to €24,000 and a further 1% for annual salaries between €24,000 and €31,000. A further increase of €1,000 a year occurred on 1 April this year on annualised salaries up to €65,000. That is due to be paid to members of the Defence Forces from 19 July. In addition, recent adjustments to salary scales will significantly benefit general service recruits and privates who have joined the Defence Forces since 1 January 2013; the so-called "recent entrants". They will receive increases in their pay packets ranging between 8% and 24%. As such, no one can dispute the fact that salaries and take-home pay are increasing again for our Defence Forces. We accept, however, that in certain areas it is difficult to hold on to people in management roles and those with particular skills which are valuable in the private sector, including, for example, air traffic controllers. We may need to look at those as specific issues.

The Taoiseach made the same comment last week about recruiting so many applicants notwithstanding the terms and conditions in place. He is in denial as, it appears, is the Government about the crisis. This is not just about Lansdowne Road. I compare what the Taoiseach just said with what Army personnel are saying. There are high rates of mental health issues in the Defence Forces and more than half of members have a second job just to be able to make do.

An Army private soldier is cited as saying, "I have to live with my parents along with my wife and kids." One member said, "Stress is being caused by geographical and financial issues." Another said, "I am driving from Cavan and in mortgage arrears. I am double jobbing and doing the job of CO's." The report cites another as saying, "We are commuting from XXX to XXX every day, that's ... €120 on diesel a week." I do not know if the Taoiseach has read the entirety of the report - he may not have - but it is quite shocking in terms of what it is revealing about the very low morale in our Defence Forces and the sense of crisis - not difficulties - about retention. This is at all levels and not confined to specialists or specific types of jobs. The turnover is across all levels. As I said earlier, it relates in particular to privates who are leaving within a short space of time.

The wives and partners who came to see me about three or four weeks ago did not need this survey.

Tá an t-am caite.

They told me the story through their real life experiences. The fundamental thing that comes out of this report-----

Tá an Teachta thar ama.

-----is the sense of disconnect between how soldiers, Naval Service personnel and Air Corps personnel on the ground feel and what leadership-----

One minute is not two minutes.

-----the Department of Defence and, ultimately, Government may think. That disconnect is again revealed in the Taoiseach's response.

That is two minutes.

Will the Taoiseach address the earlier questions that I put to him first time out?

What I also said, which the Deputy did not acknowledge today or some weeks ago when he raised it, is that pay restoration is now under way in the Defence Forces. Pay restoration is occurring across the public service. As I mentioned, pay restoration is happening at all levels, but it is happening in particular for those who were recruited since 2013, who are often referred to as recent entrants. There is pay restoration of more than 20% in some cases. That will continue because we have repaired the economy and are able to balance the books. As the number of those in employment is rising and incomes are rising, we are able to start giving something back, including back to those in the Defence Forces. They will continue to see their salaries rise in the coming years, not just because of pay restoration but because we are reducing payroll taxes such as the universal social charge. They will also see more help with the cost of living, which is an important issue for everyone. For example, in a few weeks' time, the universal child care subsidy will come into effect for anyone who has a child between six months and three years of age. Things are now, at long last, going in the right direction for people across all levels of our public service.

To give an idea of the level of interest in becoming a member of the Defence Forces, 4,000 people applied for the cadet intake for 2017. There is huge interest in becoming a member of the Defence Forces.

Retention is the issue.

There is high turnover in the Defence Forces but the turnover in defence forces across the world is high. It is not particular to Ireland. However, we acknowledge that there are issues which will have to be examined around retention in particular areas where there are special skills.

Go raibh maith agat, a Thaoisigh.

In terms of PDFORRA and RACO, the representative organisations, the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, met them on the climate survey recently and he will meet them again on Thursday. Any disputes that occur between the Defence Forces and representative organisations are dealt with through the existing systems and arbitration.

Until such time as the House decides to extend supplementary questions from one minute to two minutes, we cannot allow this slippage. I call Deputy McDonald.