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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 3

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Representative Organisations.

Theresa Ahearn

Ceist:

48 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Defence the recent meetings, if any, he has had with PDFORRA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16601/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

106 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the recent meetings, if any, he has had with PDFORRA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16817/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 106 together.

I met representatives of PDFORRA on 25 May last. The meeting was held at the association's request. I have also had a number of informal contacts with the association over the last year.

The conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force is the mechanism within which issues of concern to the association and the departmental side can and should be addressed. A number of meetings with PDFORRA have been held under the conciliation and arbitration 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 conciliation and arbitration machinery to process business. Use of the representative process in an appropriate manner will ensure that it can operate successfully.
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