Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Jan 1995

Vol. 448 No. 2

Written Answers. - Redress of Wrongs Procedure.

Michael Bell

Question:

136 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence, in respect of the redress of wrongs procedure in use in the Defence Forces at present relating to An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí and in view of the reply to Parliamentary Question 177 of 18 October 1994 if he will supply the information requested, updated as at 31 December 1994; if he will permit the Defence Forces Representative Association to participate in the review of process currently under way in view of the questionable benefit of the current system if a more radical review is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1737/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Coveney)

In accordance with the recommendations of the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces the current procedures for dealing with grievances are being reviewed. With regard to the Permanent Defence Force, this matter is being considered under the conciliation and arbitration scheme. A sub-committee of the Conciliation Council has been established to consider the grievance procedure and to produce a report which will identify current problems, consider the question of time limits and submit recommendations. The work of the sub-committee is at an advanced stage.

Under the terms of the conciliation and arbitration scheme agreed with the PDF representative associations in relation to confidentiality, it is not appropriate to give details of discussions which are taking place under the scheme. However, I understand that a comprehensive airing of views has already taken place, including the exchange of draft documents, and these are now being considered by both sides of the sub-committee. When discussions have been finalised a council report recording agreement will be drawn up by the Conciliation Council.

The procedures governing the submission and transmission of complaints as outlined in Defence Force Regulations A.7—which apply to the Permanent Defence Force—also apply to members of the FCA and An Slua Muirí. Accordingly, the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association will be fully consulted on the revision of redress of wrongs-grievance procedures at an appropriate stage.

With regard to the information requested on the number of cases submitted for redress, the following table details cases submitted by both officers and enlisted personnel of the FCA and An Slua Muirí in each of the years in question.

Cases Submitted for Redress by Officers of the FCA and An Slua Muirí

	1991	1992	1993	1994
Dealt with at Unit Level	Nil	Nil	Nil	1
Dealt with at Command Level	Nil	Nil	1	2
Submitted to the Adjutant-General	4	Nil	Nil	Nil
Submitted to the Minister	Nil	Nil	3*	Nil

* In two of these cases no redress was deemed necessary and in the third case the Minister issued a direction.

Cases Submitted for Redress by Enlisted Personnel of the FCA and An slua Muirí

	1991	1992	1993	1994
Dealt with at Unit Level	Nil	Nil	Nil	1
Dealt with at Command Level	Nil	1	Nil	Nil
Submitted to the Adjutant-General	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Submitted to the Minister	Nil	Nil	1*	Nil

* No redress was deemed necessary.