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Tuesday, 12 Jun 2018

Written Answers Nos. 118-139

Employment Data

Questions (118)

John Lahart

Question:

118. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach the percentage of the workforce employed in temporary, part-time, non-permanent, contract, banded hours and zero-hours contracts and other non-permanent employment; and the number in non-permanent employment since 2015, in tabular form. [25583/18]

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Written answers

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of estimates of labour force (ILO) in the State. This survey replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) from Q3 2017. The most recent figures available are for Q4 2017.

The CSO collects information on the number of persons in permanent or non-permanent and full-time or part-time work contracts. However, the CSO does not collect any specific information on the nature of non-permanent employment contracts such as those involving banded or zero hours. As a result, the exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The data prior to Q3 2017 includes adjustments to the historic QNHS data series to take account of revisions to population estimates arising from the 2016 Census of Population. In addition, adjustments have been made to this historic data to enable comparability with the new LFS for key headline indicators – ILO employment status, NACE Rev2 Industrial classification, age and gender.

However as a result of changes to the questionnaire, the interview mode, the introduction of a new sample, data processing changes and other methodological enhancements there are changes in the levels of some series outside of these key indicators from Q3 2017 onwards. As a consequence, the series before and after the introduction of the new survey may not be directly comparable and this should be noted when examining annual and quarterly changes.

Table 1 below shows the number of employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over in part-time employment with temporary job/work contract of limited duration as a percentage of total employees (including not stated) from Q1 2015 to Q4 2017.

Table 2 below shows the number of employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by permanency of job from Q1 2015 to Q4 2017.

Table 1 Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over in part-time employment with temporary job/work contract of limited duration as a percentage of total employees (including not stated), Q1 2015-Q4 2016

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1%

Q1 15

Q2 15

Q3 15

Q4 15

Q1 16

Q2 16

Q3 16

Q4 16

Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over in part-time employment with temporary job/work contract of limited duration as a percentage of total employees (including not stated)

5.4

5.8

5.8

5.1

4.9

5.7

5.4

5.0

Table 1 (cont'd) Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over in part-time employment with temporary job/work contract of limited duration as a percentage of total employees (including not stated), Q1 2017 - Q4 2017

-

-

-

-

1%

Q1 17

Q2 17

Q3 17

Q4 17

Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over in part-time employment with temporary job/work contract of limited duration as a percentage of total employees (including not stated)

4.5

4.7

6.3

6.1

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=Jan-Mar, q2=Apr-Jun, q3=Jul-Sep, q4=Oct-Dec.

Note: A new Labour Force Survey (LFS) replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) in Q3 2017 and, as a result, care should be taken when comparing data from before and after this period. Please see background notes of the LFS release for additional information.

Table 2 Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by permanency of job and full-time/part-employment, Q1 2015-Q4 2016

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

'000

Q1 15

Q2 15

Q3 15

Q4 15

Q1 16

Q2 16

Q3 16

Q4 16

Person has a permanent job or work contract of unlimited duration

1,509.2

1,521.6

1,544.0

1,572.9

1,571.9

1,586.1

1,616.5

1,648.5

   of which:

        full-time employment

1,199.5

1,209.3

1,235.6

1,256.3

1,252.3

1,268.9

1,291.8

1,329.7

        part-time employment

309.7

312.3

308.4

316.6

319.6

317.2

324.7

318.8

Person has a temporary job/work contract of limited duration

155.5

165.6

176.0

151.8

142.7

165.4

169.4

153.4

   of which:

        full-time employment

64.1

65.9

74.5

62.0

57.3

63.1

72.0

62.3

        part-time employment

91.4

99.6

101.4

89.9

85.5

102.3

97.4

91.1

Not stated

20.5

22.3

22.5

23.7

24.8

27.7

27.5

24.4

   of which:

        full-time employment

9.1

10.8

10.2

10.1

10.5

11.8

12.2

10.4

        part-time employment

11.4

11.5

12.4

13.6

14.3

15.9

15.3

14.0

Total employees

1,685.1

1,709.5

1,742.5

1,748.4

1,739.4

1,779.3

1,813.5

1,826.2

   of which:

        full-time employment

1,272.7

1,286.0

1,320.3

1,328.4

1,320.0

1,343.8

1,376.0

1,402.4

        part-time employment

412.5

423.5

422.2

420.1

419.3

435.5

437.4

423.8

Table 2 (cont'd) Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by permanency of job and full-time/part-employment, Q1 2017-Q4 2017

-

-

-

-

'000

Q1 17

Q2 17

Q3 17

Q4 17

Person has a permanent job or work contract of unlimited duration

1,669.9

1,678.0

1,658.7

1,686.4

   of which:

        full-time employment

1,345.6

1,367.1

1,387.9

1,400.6

        part-time employment

324.3

310.9

270.7

285.8

Person has a temporary job/work contract of limited duration

138.9

145.1

202.0

188.2

   of which:

        full-time employment

56.4

57.5

85.0

73.0

        part-time employment

82.6

87.6

117.0

115.2

Not stated

22.3

22.8

8.1

8.9

   of which:

        full-time employment

8.2

9.4

[5.8]

[6.6]

        part-time employment

14.1

13.4

*

*

Total employees

1,831.1

1,846.0

1,868.8

1,883.5

   of which:

        full-time employment

1,410.2

1,434.0

1,478.8

1,480.2

        part-time employment

420.9

411.9

390.0

403.3

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

* Estimates for numbers of persons or averages where there are less than 30 persons in a cell are not produced as estimates are too small to be considered reliable.

Parentheses [ ] indicate where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=Jan-Mar, q2=Apr-Jun, q3=Jul-Sep, q4=Oct-Dec.

Note: A new Labour Force Survey (LFS) replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) in Q3 2017 and, as a result, care should be taken when comparing data from before and after this period. Please see background notes of the LFS release for additional information.

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Questions (119)

Micheál Martin

Question:

119. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of Cabinet committees he held in May 2018. [25359/18]

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Written answers

There were no Cabinet Committee meetings held in May 2018. However, there were 2 Cabinet Committee meetings held in April and a meeting of the Cabinet Committee B on 7 June. Further Cabinet Committee meetings are scheduled for later this month.

EU Meetings

Questions (120, 121, 122)

Micheál Martin

Question:

120. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken collectively or on an individual basis with EU leaders since the most recent European summit. [25656/18]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

121. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has written to or spoken with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Mr. Viktor Orbán, recently. [24561/18]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

122. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the Prime Minister of Italy since his appointment. [24562/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 to 122, inclusive, together.

I last met with Prime Minister Viktor Orban on 4 January 2018, and I reported extensively on this engagement in the Dáil on 31 January 2018. I have not met with the Prime Minister formally since then, although we both attended the Informal EU Summit and High Level Conference on the Sahel in Brussels in February, the European Council in Brussels in March, and the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia in May. I recently wrote to Mr Orban on the occasion of his re-election, and wished him well in his role as Prime Minister of Hungary.

I have not yet had an opportunity to speak with Prime Minister Conte of Italy, but I have written to congratulate him on his appointment and to wish him well in his new role. I look forward to meeting him at the European Council in Brussels later this month.

My bilateral engagement with EU and international counterparts is ongoing, and remains crucial in relation to Brexit and other important EU issues.

In this context, I look forward to meeting the new Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, in Madrid on Thursday 14 June.

I am also scheduled to meet with the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, in Dublin on 21 June, and with the Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, in Dublin on 9 July.

In addition to such scheduled bilateral meetings, I meet and speak regularly with my EU counterparts at formal and informal meetings of the European Council, where I use every opportunity to advance Ireland's interests. I will of course attend the next meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 28 and 29 June.

EU Meetings

Questions (123, 124)

Micheál Martin

Question:

123. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the UK Prime Minister, Mrs. May, recently in regard to the forthcoming June European Council meeting. [24565/18]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

124. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the UK Prime Minister, Mrs. May, regarding Northern Ireland in May 2018. [24567/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.

I met with Prime Minister May on the margins of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 17 May.

We discussed current developments in relation to Brexit and the ongoing efforts to assist the parties in Northern Ireland to re-establish the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.

Prime Minister May told me that she expected to table a new proposal on the future customs relationship between the European Union and the UK shortly. This was published as a technical note on Thursday 7 June.

At my meeting with Prime Minister May I indicated that any move on customs that keeps the UK close to the EU is to be welcomed.

I indicated that we're willing to examine the UK proposal, but we need to see it presented as a formal written proposal in the Brexit negotiations process.

I also emphasised to the Prime Minister that upholding the commitment to avoid a hard border requires progress on more than just customs.

The agreed report from December makes clear that continued alignment on both single market and customs rules is necessary. In many ways, the regulatory issues are even more important than customs here.

More generally, I made clear to the Prime Minister that Ireland would continue to insist on a legally operable backstop being in the Withdrawal Agreement. This would be in line with the commitments made by the UK in December and repeated by the Prime Minister in her letter to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, in March.

We now need to see concrete progress on the delivery of these commitments by the time of the June European Council.

I have been consistent in my message to both Prime Minister May and my fellow EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council that reintroduction of a border on the island of Ireland is not acceptable under any circumstances.

The Commission will make a first assessment of the technical and legal feasibility of the UK proposals, and whether they provide a basis for negotiation. We look forward to its assessment and to discussing whether the proposals could be helpful in meeting the UK’s repeated commitment to avoiding a hard border, and thereby making progress on the backstop on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Based on the negotiations between the UK and the Commission Taskforce in the coming days and weeks, Mr Barnier will make an assessment of progress, for consideration by the European Council on 28 and 29 June.

Freedom of Information Requests

Questions (125)

Micheál Martin

Question:

125. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if his attention was drawn to freedom of information documents on the strategic communications unit being released on 25 May 2018. [24568/18]

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Written answers

I have no involvement in the processing of Freedom of Information requests. This is managed by the Civil Servants in my Department.

Programme for Government Implementation

Questions (126)

Micheál Martin

Question:

126. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the status of the implementation of A Programme for Partnership Government as it applies to his Department. [24581/18]

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Written answers

Government recently approved the annual report setting out progress on the Programme for Government. This sets out detailed progress since May 2017 on commitments being implemented across Government and will be published shortly and laid before the Oireachtas.

The report contains details of progress on commitments falling under the responsibility of the Department of the Taoiseach, mainly linked to Brexit preparations, the work of the Citizens' Assembly and continuing the process of Dáil Reform and Seanad Reform.

The Citizens' Assembly has considered each of the five topics and has published its recommendations to date on three of them. These are, the Eighth amendment, responding to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population and making Ireland a leader in tackling climate change. Government has published an indicative timetable for a number of referendums on constitutional amendments to be held in 2018 and 2019. The first of these was a referendum on the Eighth amendment which was passed in May 2018. Referendums on blasphemy and “woman’s life within the home” are next in line to be held.

The new collaborative model is operating effectively in the Oireachtas with the Business Committee managing the weekly Dáil business and the new Parliamentary Budget Office established to provide independent and impartial information, analysis and advice to the Oireachtas. The cross party group on Seanad Reform held its first meeting in May and the Taoiseach recently met with the chairpersons of Oireachtas Committees to discuss a wide range of issues relevant to their work.

The Department continues to support the Taoiseach to ensure the best possible outcomes for Ireland in relation to Brexit. Earlier this week, Government launched the Global Ireland 2025 which represents the most ambitious renewal and expansion of Ireland’s international presence ever undertaken in terms of diplomacy, culture, business, overseas aid, tourism and trade. It will support efforts to grow and diversify export markets, inward investment and tourism, as Brexit becomes a reality.

Commencement of Legislation

Questions (127)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

127. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the sections and parts of all legislation brought forward by his Department in each of the past four years that have yet to be commenced. [25185/18]

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Written answers

There are no Acts, or parts of Acts under the Department of the Taoiseach awaiting commencement.

Departmental Budgets

Questions (128)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

128. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach his Department's capital allocation in each of the years 2019 to 2023; and the areas to which funds will be allocated in each of those years. [25578/18]

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Written answers

My Department has no capital allocation for the years in question.

EU Data

Questions (129)

Michael McGrath

Question:

129. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach the EU fines paid in each of the years 2015 to 2017, in tabular form. [25736/18]

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Written answers

No such fines have been imposed on my Department.

Defence Forces Remuneration

Questions (130)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

130. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to remove the additional pay scales for privates that did not exist in the past and were introduced under the Haddington Road agreement. [24280/18]

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Written answers

Defence Forces' pay is increasing in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increase is weighted in favour of those on lower pay. Members of the Defence Forces have received the pay increases due under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

In addition, following negotiations with PDFORRA on behalf of their members, improved pay scales for general service recruits and privates who joined the Permanent Defence Force post January 2013, were backdated to 1 July 2016 and paid in August 2017.

The Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020 provides for further increase in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over the lifetime of the Agreement, with the benefits once again weighted towards those on lower pay. The Agreement provides that an examination of remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 recruits at entry grades will be undertaken within 12 months of the commencement of the Agreement.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Government accepted an amendment at Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 that, within 3 months of the passing of the Act, my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Pascal Donohoe, T.D. would prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service. In accordance with the legislation, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform submitted the report to the Oireachtas on 16 March 2018.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is the lead Department in this matter and has held discussions with public sector unions and representative associations. Further engagement will take place as the parties continue to work through the various aspects of this issue.

Defence Forces Pensions

Questions (131)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

131. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to change contract duration terms to six-year terms to coincide with the move from the old pension terms, that is, 21 year and 31 year to the 30 year pension cycle. [24281/18]

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Written answers

In accordance with recommendations arising from an adjudication in 2015 under the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force, my Department and military management, in consultation with PDFORRA, are currently reviewing the maximum service period of 21 years for enlisted personal up to the rank of corporal.

There are currently no plans to change contract duration terms to six years.

Defence Forces Remuneration

Questions (132)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

132. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to improve the duty money rate and the payment system to ensure persons are paid in seven working days. [24282/18]

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Written answers

Defence Forces pay is increasing in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides for increases in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over the lifetime of the Agreement with the focus of the agreement on the lower paid. The restoration of cuts to allowances will also be considered in the context of the Agreement.

The process for the payment of Security Duty Allowances is that all approved claims are downloaded electronically from the Defence Forces Personnel Management System on the 10th of each month (or closest working day) and sent to the Department’s Finance Branch from where they are immediately forwarded electronically to the Department’s payroll provider – the National Shared Services Office - for payment in the next available payroll. (Payrolls are prepared in advance of each pay day). In May 2018, over 16,000 claims were processed from all units throughout the Defence Force for some 4,200 members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF).

The above arrangements, which have been in place since April 2017, replaced a manual system of processing claims. The process is contained in a Defence Forces Administrative Instruction which sets out the responsibilities of all relevant appointment holders involved. While all financial processes are kept under regular review, there are no proposals under consideration to change the current arrangements.

Defence Forces Remuneration

Questions (133)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

133. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to increase aircraft technician tech pay to coincide with developments in aircraft technology. [24283/18]

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Written answers

A review of technician pay in the Defence Forces is ongoing. There are no plans at this stage to increase aircraft technician pay.

In 2017, under my direction, the Department of Defence brought issues of recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces to the attention of the Public Sector Pay Commission (PSPC). As a direct result of that initiative the PSPC is now beginning an in-depth evidence based examination of those issues, which will include an examination of certain specialist positions and technician grades.

The Public Service Pay Commission has commenced this work and has requested hard data and detailed information from my Department. Defence management are preparing this material which will be sent to the Commission shortly.

The Public Service Pay Commission is due to complete this exercise in the second half of 2018. The findings and proposals arising will be considered at that time.

Defence Forces Remuneration

Questions (134)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

134. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to introduce changes for aircraft apprentices in both pay and rank to increase the attractiveness of the position. [24284/18]

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Written answers

There were 22 Air Corps apprentices inducted into the Defence Forces in 2017. The most recent competition for apprentices was launched on 2nd March 2018 and ran until 25th May 2018. This competition yielded 931 applications for the 28 available positions. These applications are now being processed.

Rates of pay and conditions of employment within the Irish public service in general, have traditionally been set by, amongst other things, reference to levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public service. Defence Forces pay is increasing in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides for further increases in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over the lifetime of the Agreement with the focus of the agreement once again being on the lower paid. A 1% increase in annualised salaries due from 1 January 2018 has been paid to members of the Permanent Defence Force.

In 2017, under my direction, the Department of Defence raised recruitment and retention issues as part of the submission to the Public Service Pay Commission. The Government tasked the Public Service Pay Commission with examining these challenges in the Defence Sector in more detail. The Public Service Pay Commission has commenced this work and has requested detailed information from the Department of Defence. Defence management have forwarded some material and further material will be sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the coming weeks. The Public Service Pay Commission is due to complete this work in the second half of 2018. The findings and proposals arising will be considered at that time.

Defence Forces Remuneration

Questions (135)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

135. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to stop welfare deductions from soldiers' pay; and the services listed in DFR S3 from the Defence Forces budget in accordance with the Payment of Wages Act 1991. [24285/18]

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Written answers

Paragraph 34 of Defence Force Regulation (DFR) S3 provides for a deduction of 24p (30c) a week from the pay of a soldier as a contribution towards meeting expenses relating to the provision of articles and services provided for the welfare, recreation and comfort of members such as administrative expenses in connection with arrangements made for personal laundry services and the provision of sports equipment and other such items.

This matter was the subject of a recent Labour Court appeal arising from a case taken to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) by a member of the Defence Forces. The Labour Court determined that the appeal was not allowed and affirmed the original WRC decision that the deductions referred to were made under statute and were not in contravention of the Payment of Wages Act 1991.

Specifically, the Court found that welfare deductions from soldiers' pay came within the scope of section 5(1) of the Payment of Wages Act 1991, being deductions authorised by an instrument made under statute, namely Defence Force Regulation S3 paragraph 34, made under the Defence Act 1954.

The Court also found that the deduction was not made in respect of goods or services supplied to or provided for the employee by the employer the supply or provision of which was necessary to the employment. The Court further found that the deduction at issue in this case came within the scope of section 5(5)(c) of the Payment of Wages Act 1991.

The full decision of the Labour Court in this matter is available on their website (www.workplacerelations.ie), under reference number PWD1819.

The position concerning welfare reductions remains unchanged.

Defence Forces Contracts

Questions (136)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

136. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to apply the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 allowing persons to have flexible working hours; and his further plans to introduce online learning to reduce the number of persons on courses or on overseas preparation that can then be available to support flexibility and reduce duties to 12 hour shifts. [24286/18]

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Written answers

The principles underlying the Working Time Directive are based on ensuring the health and safety of employees. The implications of the Working Time Directive and its implementation, in respect of the Defence Forces, have been the subject of an intensive and on-going review by my Department for some time. This is a complex matter having regard to the nature of the work of military forces, and the Working Time Directive recognises this complexity. There is also litigation pending in the High Court on the matter of the transposition of the Working Time Directive.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is progressing the legislation required to provide for the application of the Working Time Directive to the Defence Forces. My Department has given full consideration to appropriate exemptions and derogations as provided for under the Directive. The Representative Associations have been invited to participate in a consultative process on the application of the Directive.

Separately, I am aware that the Defence Forces continue to review and adjust training and education approaches in order to maximise efficiency and, where possible, enhance work life balance for members of the Defence Forces.

Defence Forces Records

Questions (137)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

137. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to cease issuing the green book, the LA 89 and replace it with an electronic CV and presidential letter of commendation. [24287/18]

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Written answers

Paragraph 51 of DFR A 10 (Enlistment, Promotions, Reductions, Transfers to the Reserve Defence Force and Discharge), refers to the 'Character in Testimonial' form - the LA 89 - and states that every individual about to be discharged from the Permanent Defence Force will be given such a form.

Form LA 89 consists of 3 components: - Basic personal identifier information such as number, rank, name, the 'character in testimonial' component and finally the signature, rank and stamp of the Officer Commanding. There are currently no plans to cease issuing the LA 89. Each former Defence Forces member is also entitled to seek a copy of their records under pre-existing freedom of information legislation.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government deeply appreciates and values the contribution of the many members of the Defence Forces.

Defence Forces Training

Questions (138, 139)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

138. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to cease medical downgrading of persons of over 40 years of age (details supplied). [24288/18]

View answer

Thomas Byrne

Question:

139. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to cease compulsory medical examination for persons of over 40 years of age (details supplied). [24289/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.

I can assure the Deputy that the health and safety of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me. Given the robust nature of military life and the unique physical and psychological demands it places on individuals, it is necessary that the members of the Defence Forces are physically and mentally prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. The State has a duty of care to ensure that each individual has the ability to perform the duties expected of them.

Defence Force Regulation A.12 Medical Treatment (Paragraph 75) provides that all members of the Permanent Defence Force shall undergo an annual medical examination. The Defence Forces have advised that some such examinations have occurred outside of the 12 month period but this has not been the case of any personnel over the age of 40 years. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that both new entrants and those deploying overseas are given priority for medical examination. There is no difference in the examination that is carried out before and after attaining the age of 40 years. The outcome of a medical examination may lead to the medical re-classification of the individual concerned by a Medical Board.

There are no plans to change provisions to age related medical examinations and gradings.

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