Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Quinn. Mr. Quinn mentioned significant, prioritised military and civil work is under way across the full spectrum of human resources matters. I know from engaging with a lot of people, many of whom are former Permanent Defence Force members in my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, that it is an issue of considerable concern. In 2016 and 2017, the Defence Forces representative organisations sought changes to the industrial relations structures of their representation and to the Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme. There are changes needed there. The different representative organisations have been seeking changes. Are changes similar to what is proposed for the representative organisations for members of An Garda Síochána proposed? There are some changes proposed for those particular organisations.

Before I bring in other members, I want to refer to an issue that has been raised with me at local level. A University of Limerick focus group report on the Defence Forces was carried out earlier this year. Has anything been done to address the issues and negative findings that emerged from that report? The Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, committed some time ago to meeting the representative associations in September this year. Has that meeting happened? If not, how soon is it planned?

I will bring in Senator Daly and then Senator Lawless.