Vol. 429 No. 6
163 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Defence if he will allow the Irish United Nations Veterans Association the right of representation; if not, if PDFORRA can represent the Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the provisions of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, serving officers and enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force may be represented in relation to their remuneration and certain conditions of service exclusively by RACO and PDFORRA respectively. These associations have no representative function in relation to retired personnel. As in other areas of the public service, any interested group or individual is free to make representations on behalf of retired personnel at any time and such representations are duly considered. Nowhere in the public service, however, is that facility given recognition on any more formal basis.
