Vol. 416 No. 1
17 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the progress being made with regard to recognition of the Reserve Defence Forces representative body; and if he will outline the reasons they have not been recognised to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
ask the Minister for Defence when he expects to be in a position to formally establish a representative association for the Reserve Defence Forces; and if discussions are taking place at present between the RDF and his Department.
75 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline, (a) the number of meetings that officials of his Department have had since 1 August 1991 with officers of the Reserve Defence Force Association with regard to official recognition of that body and (b) the matters at issue at present which are delaying recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 30 and 75 together.
In accordance with the provisions of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, the statutory authority for the establishment of representative associations for members of the Defence Forces rests with the Minister for Defence. The drafting of Defence Force regulations to provide for the formal establishment of a representative association for members of the Reserve Defence Forces, is at an advanced stage in my Department. Meetings between representatives — civil and military — of my Department and representatives from An Fórsa Cosanta Áit-iúil and An Slua Muirí in regard to the content of these draft regulations were held on 1 May 1991 and 6 November 1991. In addition there has been a considerable amount of communication by letter and phone between my Department and the representatives.
The present situation is that draft Defence Force regulations, modified to take account of the views expressed at the meetings, were forwarded to the representatives on 17 December 1991. Their further comments are awaited.
