The depth of anger, frustration, despair and sense of betrayal within our military families and communities is at an extraordinary level. Families who for generations have contributed so much to our democracy, along with our peacekeeping overseas, and who have such pride in the history of our Defence Forces cannot comprehend what is happening to them. A former head of the Army Ranger Wing, Commandant Cathal Berry, who subsequently headed up the health service in the military, said:

The sense of absolute betrayal is palpable. It is visceral. I have not seen anything even remotely like it in 23 years’ service.

On the Government, the previous Government, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, he said: "To reduce a highly effective and proud organisation to an utterly demoralised outfit over an eight-year period is some achievement."

This level of criticism is unprecedented from a former head of the Army Ranger Wing. It should not be surprising, however, to the Taoiseach and the Government. The lack of morale, along with the retention crisis within the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, has reduced the capacity and strength of the Defence Forces to an all-time low. The Taoiseach has been alerted to this time and again in the House and outside it. I attended a protest march in Cork last month led by retired former Army, Naval Service and Air Corps personnel. Their language, commentary and speeches at that meeting were on a par with what Commandant Berry has said. Former Army officers warned about the dismantling of our Defence Forces, the haemorrhaging of experienced personnel, the reduction of their capacity and the length of time it will take to repair and recover from this damage.

Naval ships have been unable to sail because of a lack of crew. Up to 50 sailors are sleeping on board naval ships because they cannot afford soaring rents when off-duty. The Taoiseach is aware of the University of Limerick’s research into the conditions of many Army officers. There are significant safety issues in the Air Corps. Commandant Berry recalled how a recent recruit who had been in the Army for 12 weeks and was in line for the best soldier award had to go back to his old job working in a meat factory with twice the pay for half the hours. He said he was not leaving because he hates the Army but because he loves it. He said he cannot sit back any more and watch the Defence Forces being completely dismantled and demoralised before his eyes. He spoke about the humiliation and suffocation of the Defence Forces.

Does the Taoiseach feel ashamed of the manner in which he, the Government and the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, have demoralised and dismantled our Defence Forces? Does he understand the level of anger within Defence Force families and personnel about this continuing neglect? When is the Government going to finally respond to this crisis in an effective and comprehensive manner?

I heard former Commandant Berry’s interview yesterday when I was on my way to Brussels. It was a stinging criticism. Sometimes the Government needs to hear criticism and sometimes it needs to take it on board. I am very much aware of the anger among Defence Forces families and members about the current situation.

When it comes to recruitment, it is actually going very well. We are recruiting hundreds of new people into our Defence Forces every year-----

However, the Defence Forces are not retaining them.

-----but we have a real problem with retention in that more people are leaving than are coming in. I have acknowledged that in the House in the past.

This year, for example, we are investing an extra €50 million in our Defence Forces. There is a suggestion that this money is handed back. It is not.

It is handed back every year. It comes to €20 million.

Up to €50 million extra is being invested in our Defence Forces this year. It is going into new vessels, new aircraft, new equipment, better and improved barracks, as well as improved pay and pensions for members and retired members of the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces are covered by the public sector pay agreement. We have a pay agreement across the entire public service which provides for full restoration of pay for almost all public servants, including soldiers and Air Corps and Naval Service personnel by October next year. That is happening in phases and is already well under way.

Separate from that, the Public Service Pay Commission has been asked by the Government to consider issues which are unique to the Defence Forces. It has done that work and received submissions from the Departments of Defence, Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as the Chief of Staff, senior personnel in the Army and the representative groups like PDFORRA and RACO. There was a suggestion that this report was to be published yesterday and it had something to do with elections. That is not correct. The report was only received recently and has not yet been shared with the Cabinet. It will be in the next couple of weeks and will be responded to.

We are serious about responding to the retention difficulties we have in the Defence Forces. At the same time, however, we have to bear in mind that anything which happens with public sector pay has a knock-on effect. Deputy Micheál Martin’s spokesperson, Deputy Michael McGrath, asked me questions last week about where I was going to find extra money for broadband and the national children’s hospital. That was a fair question. It must be borne in mind that a 2% increase in public sector pay costs about €400 million a year alone. That is much more than the extra money we need to find for broadband or the national children’s hospital. It is not once-off. It is recurring. I have to bear that in mind.

Magic money. Ask Freddie Mercury over there.

This issue is far deeper than just a referral to the Public Service Pay Commission for consideration. The Army goes to the heart of our democracy. Does the Taoiseach understand that? We need a strong, proud, healthy and dynamic Defence Forces where morale is high and to which personnel are attracted to stay and develop. Our Army withstood subversion in the State for over 30 years. It raised our international reputation by bravely serving in many dangerous overseas missions. It will protect our citizens again into the future and our democracy against future threats.

The bottom line, however, is that Commandant Berry was the head of the military medical school. He met many of those contemplating leaving the Army. What struck home was the sense that they were being discriminated against not by colour or creed but by the uniform they wear. That is the overwhelming sense of many within our Defence Forces. That is why they are leaving in their droves. It is at a dangerous level. I have met officers and people across the board. They are at pains to point out how dangerous this is for our society and democracy and for the health of that democracy.

The Taoiseach needs to get that point and stop the codology that has been going on for the past two years of burying his head in the sand. There was a suggestion from Commandant Berry, which most people in the Army, whether rightly or wrongly, believe given everything else that has been announced in the past number of weeks, including €3 billion and billions more for this, that and the other. However, one thing was not announced. The Taoiseach has seen the report according to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, as has the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe. However, it was not published in advance of the local elections. Whether that is right or wrong, that is the sense out there among members of the Defence Forces. When will the Taoiseach comprehensively respond to the wider issue and the lack of morale in our Defence Forces and the danger to our democracy as a result?

I thank the Deputy for his question. We have a strong and proud Defence Forces in this State, ensuring the security of our State, protecting our democracy, asserting our sovereignty, dealing with subversive threats, participating in peacekeeping missions for the UN and the EU - for example, we recently extended the mission in Lebanon - and also providing essential aid to the civil power, particularly the Garda when it comes to dealing with organised crime. It is not the case, however, that members of our Defence Forces are discriminated against because of their uniform. In fact, they are tied into the public sector pay agreement so any pay increases that are secured by trade unions, which can go and have gone on strike, also apply to the Defence Forces. They are part of the public sector pay deal. That means full restoration of pay for almost everyone in the Defence Forces by October next year, which is already happening in phases. To give the Deputy an example, the average gross earnings, excluding overseas allowances, for a three star private has gone up to €37,529; for a corporal, it has gone up to €41,000; for a lieutenant, it has gone up to €42,000; for a captain, it has gone up to €56,000; and for a commandant, it has gone up to €66,000. That is up on where it was a few years ago and it will continue to increase until we have pay restoration by October 2020, as agreed. The Public Service Pay Commission is examining issues that are particular to the Defence Forces. We accept there are issues that are particular to the Defence Forces and that is why it has been tasked with that job.