Vol. 487 No. 7
53 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Defence the progress, if any made between officials of his Department and PDFORRA regarding pay under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work as promised by the Minister in his address to PDFORRA's annual delegate conference in Tralee, County Kerry. [4789/98]
A sub-committee of the conciliation council has been established to review, in the context of the PCW, allowances payable to the ranks represented by PDFORRA. A number of very constructive meetings with the association have already been held and another meeting will be arranged shortly. In the course of the review which is now under way, the official side will be as anxious as PDFORRA to reach a conclusion which is acceptable to all sides, and many of the concerns of the association can be addressed in a constructive manner. These discussions are taking place under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force. As agreed with the association, the scheme provides that discussions taking place under it are confidential to the parties involved. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate, therefore, for me to comment in detail on the issues under discussion.
