Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 6

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Representative Associations.

Donal Carey

Ceist:

122 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Defence the number of meetings he has had in 1999 and to date in 2000 on a formal basis with the representative associations, PDFORRA and RACO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4575/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

In 1999, I had formal meetings with RACO and PDFORRA on 19 August and 25 May, respectively. In addition, I attended the delegate conferences of both associations late last year. This year I met with both associations on 22 February.

The conciliation and arbitration scheme provides the mechanism for addressing issues which come within the associations' remit. While I am happy to meet with PDFORRA and RACO I am anxious that the day to day business of the associations is processed through the system of conciliation and arbitration.

Legislation establishing the Defence Forces representative associations which was passed by the House in 1990 takes cognisance of the special nature of the military organisation with its own ethos and responsibilities. Accordingly, the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, specifically excludes from the scope of representation "any operation and the raising, maintenance, command, constitution, organisation and discipline of the Defence Forces...".

In the ten years since the enactment of this legislation and the establishment of representative associations I have not become aware of any compelling reason in either the use of the representative process by the associations or in terms of its effectiveness to propose an amendment to the legislation, nor have any proposals to do so been made to me. It is incumbent on all parties to the representative process to use the machinery which is at their disposal in an efficient, effective and responsible manner.