Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 5

Written Answers. - Benchmarking Process.

Mary Upton

Question:

30 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the discussions with representative organisations about the benchmarking report; the allocation which has been made within his Department's Estimates for 2003 to pay the benchmarking award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13087/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Members of the Defence Forces are prohibited from belonging to trade unions and their representative associations are not affiliated to ICTU. This means the associations do not participate directly in the negotiations between the social partners which have led to national agreements.

In the course of discussions on the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness agreement was reached with the Defence Forces representative associations on a framework which would facilitate them engaging with the official side in talks parallel to those taking place between the social partners at national level. Under the terms of this agreement representatives of the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance, Defence and the military authorities met collectively and separately with representatives of PDFORRA and RACO. These meetings were supplemented by a number of bilateral meetings involving the various parties. This process ensured that the associations were aware of developments at the central discussions while at the same time having a forum to raise matters of particular concern to them.

On 22 October 2002 parallel discussions commenced with the Defence Forces representative associations on how the public service benchmarking body's recommendations on achieving modernisation, flexibility and change can be implemented in the Defence Forces. These were based on the established model and are continuing.

In expectation of a successful conclusion to those discussions and anticipating that the representative associations will accept the Sustaining Progress agreement, an allocation of €14 million has been made in my Department's revised Estimate 2003. This allocation provides for payment of the benchmarking awards, including the arrears due from 1 December 2001.