An Cosantóir

10 Contributions to the public consultation on the Commission on the Defence Forces are being examined to see what points and suggestions have been made, regarding the future of the Defence Forces. The public consultation ended on March 19th. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established in December 2020 on foot of a commitment given in the Programme for Government, set out by the Coalition Government. It was announced by the Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD. The Commission has been charged with carrying out a wide-ranging review of all aspects of the Defence Forces and developing a longer-term vision beyond 2030. In announcing the set up of the Commission, Minister Coveney said it underpinned the Government's commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces are fit for purpose, both in terms of meeting immediate requirements and also in terms of the longer-term vision. In establishing this Commission, which contains national and international high- level expertise and experience, he said the Government was seeking to ensure that the outcome will be a Defence Forces that is "agile, flexible and adaptive in responding to dynamic changes in the security environment, including new and emerging threats and technologies." The Minister noted that the Terms of Reference require that the Commission's overall approach will be guided and informed by both the White Paper on Defence 2015 and the White Paper Update 2019, which set out Ireland's overall Defence Policy approach. This is against a backdrop of the high-level defence goal to provide for the military defence of the State, contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government. This fits within the broader context of the protection of Ireland's defence and security interests nationally and internationally. Under its Terms of Reference, the Commission will take account of Ireland's particular defence requirements, including its strong international commitment in the overseas domain as well as the particular roles of the Defence Forces in the domestic security environment which itself continues to evolve. It will consider and recommend the appropriate structure and size of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). This will encompass consideration of appropriate capabilities, structures and staffing for the Army, and its brigade structure; the Air Corps and the Naval Service along with the appropriate balance and disposition of personnel and structures across a joint force approach in the land, air, maritime, cyber, intelligence and space domains. With the Reserve Defence Force, the Commission will consider a wide range of options and will make recommendations to better leverage the capabilities of the RDF in their supports to the PDF and to make service in the RDF a more attractive option. The most appropriate governance and effective high-level command and control structures in the Defence Forces will also be looked at. In addition, the Commission will examine the evolution of all remuneration systems and structures currently in place in the Defence Forces, noting what the Programme for Government states in relation to a future Permanent Pay Review Body. Upon completion of the Commission's work, the Minister for Defence will consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the establishment of a permanent pay review body, reflecting the unique nature of military service in the context of the public service. All recommendations by the Commission or the successor body and their implementation must be consistent with national public sector wage policy. The Commission will also set out a strategic perspective on HR policies, and associated strategies, including grievance processes and consideration of appropriate structural flexibility, to fulfil the requirements of military capabilities for a more agile and adaptive Defence Forces in a manner congruent with modern society, and in light of the prevailing dynamics of the labour market, while consistent with public sector pay and personnel policy. It will recommend appropriate turnover and retention approaches, considering work undertaken to date, and international best practice, to deliver the capabilities required of a modern military force. In addition, it will recommend approaches to recruitment, including identifying military career options that could create a more diverse, gender- balanced, flexible and responsive force, with a system of career progression to meet the recommended force structures and disposition. The Commission is chaired by Mr Aidan O'Driscoll, former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, and previously Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture. Other members have been chosen to ensure the optimum range of expertise in key areas including management, HR, security policy, public service, as well as both domestic and international military expertise. The Commission, which is supported by an independent Secretariat, has a mandate from Government to report by December 2021. By Tony O'Brien DF COMMISSION

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