Barry Cowen
Question:98. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he has had any recent engagement with the representative organisations from the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47125/21]
View answerThursday, 30 September 2021
Questions (98)
Written answers
The Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and Defence Force Regulations S6 provided for the establishment of Representative Associations for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The Associations that have since been established are RACO (for commissioned officers) and PDFORRA (for enlisted personnel).
The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the determination of claims and proposals from the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations relating to remuneration and conditions of service.
Civil and military personnel from my Department continue to work with the Representative Associations in a positive and collaborative process within the C&A Scheme to resolve issues. There is also ongoing engagement on a regular basis between the Official side and the Representative side on a range of items which are processed through C&A.
Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have met with the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO) on three occasions: 17 July 2020, 20 October 2020 and 17 December 2020 and with the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) on four occasions: 17 July 2020, 20 October 2020, 17 December 2020 and most recently on 24 May 2021. I have also met with the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association on two occasions on 23 November 2020 and 14 July 2021.
I have further meetings scheduled with both Permanent Representative Associations, namely PDFORRA and RACO on 13 October next. In addition I am also looking forward to engaging with the associations at the upcoming PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference on 6 October 2021 and the RACO Biennial Delegate Conference on 23 November 2021 and hearing the issues of interest and concern to their members.
Question No. 99 answered with Question No. 97.