Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:120 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the latest position in the discussions with the representative organisations regarding the benchmarking report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4668/03]
Written Answers. - Benchmarking Report.
As I indicated to the House on 12 December 2002, members of the Defence Forces are prohibited from belonging to trade unions and as a result their representative associations are not affiliated to ICTU. This means that the associations do not participate directly in the negotiations between the social partners which have led to national agreements.
In the course of discussions on the PPF, agreement was reached with the Defence Forces representative associations on a framework which would facilitate them engaging with the official side in talks parallel to those taking place between the social partners at national level. Under the terms of this agreement, representatives of the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance and Defence and the military authorities met collectively and separately with representatives of PDFORRA and RACO. These meetings were supplemented by a number of bilateral meetings involving the various parties. This process ensured that the associations were fully aware of developments at the central discussions while at the same time having a forum to raise matters of particular concern to them.
Based on the established model, parallel discussions with the Defence Forces representative associations on how the public service benchmarking body's recommendations on achieving modernisation, flexibility and change can be implemented in the Defence Forces commenced on 22 October 2002 and are continuing.