Kathleen Lynch
Question:97 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to introduce legislation to allow members of the Defence Forces the right to strike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8931/03]
Written Answers - Proposed Legislation.
My position on this matter has not changed since I replied to this question six weeks ago. For the Deputy's benefit, I will repeat what I stated on 19 February last, namely that to amend the Defence Act in order to allow the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 to apply to members of the Defence Forces would be wholly inappropriate.
I know PDFORRA has placed a certain stress on the concept of the soldier as a "citizen in uniform" with the implication that the soldier's conditions of employment should largely replicate conditions in the civilian world. However, in a professional military organisation, this approach is simply not practical and this is widely recognised internationally. The position is that when an individual decides to join the Defence Forces, he or she voluntarily accepts, inter alia, a range of obligations and responsibilities which do not normally arise in the course of civilian employment. Taking any form of industrial action is irreconcilable with military service.
I am satisfied the mechanisms available to the representative association through the Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme – with its access to facilitation and arbitration and parallel discussion during national pay talks – provide a framework within which issues of concern can, are and should continue to be addressed.