Emmet Stagg
Question:83 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Defence if he will appoint an ombudsman for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26198/99]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Ombudsman.
As I have indicated to the House on previous occasions, the question of the appointment of an ombudsman for the Defence Forces has been raised by PDFORRA under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force. The terms of the scheme, which have been agreed with the association, provide that discussions at conciliation and arbitration are confidential to the parties involved. Accordingly, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this issue.
Revised complaints procedures for the Defence Forces were agreed with PDFORRA and RACO and implemented with effect from May 1996. The revised procedures provide for the appointment of an independent complaints inquiry officer to investigate grievances on behalf of the Minister. All complaints, other than the most trivial or vexatious, are referred to him by the Minister. The agreement also provided that the revised complaints procedures should operate on a trial basis for two years, after which a review of the procedures should take place. This review is now being undertaken by sub-committees of the conciliation council established for that purpose. I have no wish to interfere in their deliberations but I will say that it is vital that all members of the Defence Forces have confidence in the outcome of that review. It should not be beyond us to create a procedural formula for dealing with grievances that satisfies all concerned and at the same time maintains the ethos of the military way of life.
Billy Timmins
Question:88 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the method by which troops serving in East Timor communicate with their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26319/99]
Defence Forces personnel serving with INTERFET in East Timor normally communicate with their families by telephone and by post.
The issue of the applicable allowances, including postal and telecommunications allowances, in respect of INTERFET has been raised with the representative associations under the Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme. As proceedings under the scheme are confidential, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.