Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:8. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence his plans to ensure that members of the Defence Forces can make representations directly to their elected representatives. [25792/14]
View answerWednesday, 18 June 2014
Questions (8)
Oral answers (4 contributions)
Something that frustrates public representatives is the inability of members of the Defence Forces to make representations directly on issues of concern. The people are proud of our Defence Forces and we owe them a great debt for all they have done for us. The least we can expect is for members of the Defence Forces to have the ability like any other citizen to make direct representations to their public representatives.
I thank the Deputy for his question. For the most part, there is no impediment to members of the Defence Forces making representations directly to their elected representatives. The only restriction in this regard relates to service matters, including postings, transfers, promotions, overseas service and other matters connected with service in the Defence Forces. Paragraph 27 of General Routine Order 43/1955 prohibits Defence Forces personnel from making representations directly to their elected representatives in respect of service matters. Paragraph 27 prohibits unauthorised communications by members of the Defence Forces and provides that all communications regarding service matters must be transmitted through the recognised official channels and that communications or requests addressed to Members of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann, public bodies or the press are expressly forbidden. In cases where representations on service matters are made directly by or on behalf of individual members of the Defence Forces, those members are deemed to be in contravention of paragraph 27. There are no plans to amend the provisions of paragraph 27.
In my view Deputies should not make representations around matters such as transfers and overseas postings. That should be a matter for the command structure, based on merits and so on. There is a perception among members of the Defence Forces that they cannot make any representations to public representatives and there is a huge fear around that. It is important to make it clear, for example, if they are allowed to express their concerns around the impact on their families of travelling significant distances because of the re-arrangement of the brigade structure in the State. Are they allowed to talk collectively about the impact of closures of barracks on their communities and make representations on that? It is important it is clarified what matters are appropriate, and what are not, on which members of the Defence Forces can make representations.
The AGSI, Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, recently won a case in Europe to give it trade union rights. In keeping with this, does the Minister believe PDFORRA could establish the same rights, make direct representations to public representatives and its members could come directly to Deputies on matters such as those of the impact on their families and collective impact on communities?
If a member of the Defence Forces came to the Deputy complaining about the distance they had to travel, I would think the aim of the question would be about seeking a transfer. That is not prohibited by the Defence Forces regulations.
Any member of the Defence Forces can go to a representative organisation such as PDFORRA and state their concerns. PDFORRA will then make a case with Defence Forces personnel. I know that with the closure of some barracks the lives of some members of the Defence Forces were upset. All in all, most members have been accommodated in the best possible way either by their line manager or PDFORRA. However, there are no plans to amend the provisions of paragraph No. 27 of general routine order 43/1955 which prohibits Defence Forces personnel making representations directly to their Deputies and elected representatives on service matters.