The nation’s military leaders have proposed linking their salaries to the highest ranks of the Garda and senior positions within the Civil Service, potentially leading to pay increases of nearly 30 per cent in some instances.
A proposal made on behalf of the 12 generals of the Defence Forces stated that the Defence Forces head’s salary was currently 72 per cent of the Garda Commissioner’s salary. The military heads deemed this discrepancy as “unfair”, suggesting it should be reassessed via a thorough job assessment process. They claimed the lesser remuneration for generals had resulted in a reduction of the Defence Forces’ perceived value among the public.
The proposal by the Defence Forces generals, partnered with a letter signed by the Chief of Staff, Lieut Gen Sean Clancy, was delivered to an independent revision panel in the summer of 2022, analysing remuneration structures for top-level public service positions.
The government recently set up a new Senior Posts Remuneration Committee to dictate future salaries for the highest-ranking positions in the state’s service as per the independent panel’s report.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform disclosed the proposals received by the independent review panel.
The military leaders indicated in their proposal that the national defence policy had adapted tremendously in reaction to global security and defence progress. They pointed out that the generals’ responsibilities and roles had significantly transformed.
They further underscored the government’s pledge to significantly finance the armed forces, reform their structures in line with the Commission on Defence’s recommendations in early 2022, and increase defence expenditure by 50 per cent by 2028.
The proposal specifically emphasizes restoring equal pay between the Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff and the Garda Commissioner, established in 1979 but revoked after a public service pay review in 2000.
The submission contended that this erosion of pay equality had belittled and devalued the Defence Forces in the view of the public and the serving members.
The Defence Forces have repeatedly expressed their growing unease over the unresolved issue of wage equity, as the pay discrepancy has steadily increased over time. A sobering fact neglected in the 30-page report is the considerable decrease in Defence Forces personnel and operational capability over the past few years. Currently, the military force operates with a deficit of around 2,000 personnel. The report fails to address the allegations of widespread abuse and discrimination that emerged from The Women of Honor exposition which has greatly impacted the organisation.
The Chief of Staff at the Defence Forces was reported to have earned €194,029 annually as of early 2022, with lower-ranking Major Generals and Brigadier Generals in the Army/Commodore in the Naval Service earning €149,551 and €135,955 respectively. Comparatively, the Garda Commissioner was paid €269,068, while the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner received €172,955 and €152,680 respectively.
These salaries have likely increased in the elapsed period as part of regular public service pay adjustments. The Garda Commissioner’s salary saw a striking 40% boost in 2018 to entice competent candidates before Drew Harris, a former Police Service officer from Northern Ireland, was selected for the position.
While the generals agreed that the Garda Commissioner holds fiscal responsibility for the force, they emphasised the “significant level of delegated responsibility and control given to the chief of staff and his deputies”. They contended that despite An Garda Siochana being larger in terms of budget and team size, the Defence Forces require similar, if not more demanding leadership skills and problem-solving for decision-making.
They also emphasised that the historic decision to part with wage parity between An Garda Siochana and Department of Defence chiefs does not accurately represent the demanding operational and leadership duties resting on the shoulders of the Chief of Staff.
The Defence Forces were not available to make any commentary on this subject.