Vol. 498 No. 2
113 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that his Department will have met all the criteria of Partnership 2000 by its completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26846/98]
Agreement has recently been reached with both PDF representative associations on the application to them of the provisions of the Partnership 2000 for inclusion, employment and competitiveness. Arrangements have been made for payment of the appropriate general increases, including any arrears, and the remaining increases will be paid as they fall due.
The Partnership 2000 provides for a new departure in employer-employee relationships with successful organisational change being based on a partnership approach to change and to problem solving. The civil and military branches of the Department and both PDF associations are committed to this approach. I am anxious that partnership arrangements with both PDF associations would be arrived at as quickly as possible and that those arrangements would meet the needs of both the organisation and the associations' members.
A requirement of the Partnership 2000 is action to modernise the public service. On the civil side of the Department and in common with all other Government Departments, as agreed at general council of the Civil Service conciliation and arbitration scheme, a staff/management partnership committee, chaired by the Secretary General, has been established in the Department of Defence to address joint ownership of the change management process.
Where the Defence Forces are concerned, this modernisation programme involves a restructuring and reorganisation of the Forces. The first phase of the process is set out in the Defence Forces review implementation plan. This implementation plan is, however, merely the first of a series which will be implemented over a ten year period.
All sides are committed to the partnership concept and I do not anticipate any difficulty in meeting the terms of the P2000.
