Jack Wall
Ceist:90 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the meetings, if any, he has had with the representative associations since 1 January 1999; the results of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5011/99]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Representative Associations.
I have not had any meetings with the Defence Forces representative associations this year. In this regard the conciliation and arbitration scheme provides a mechanism within which issues of concern to both the associations and the departmental side can and should be addressed. A number of meetings with the associations have been held under the C and A mechanism this year and there are regular informal contacts between the official and staff sides.
In any situation where the representative associations are involved I am anxious to encourage the use of the normal C and A machinery to process routine business. The fact that my intervention has not been requested underlines the fact that they are using the representative system in an appropriate manner and that the process is working.