Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 10 July 2025
Committee on Defence and National Security
General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed)
2:00 am
Mr. Derek Priestley:
I will explain that the view of the officials’ side would have been that this was a disciplinary matter, which we recognise as being outside the scope of representation. However, as we clearly say in our opening statement there are further impacts here that relate very much to health and safety. For that reason, we sought consultation on it. It is also just simple, good industrial relations practice to consult. As we say in the start of our statement, as the managers, leaders and decision makers of the organisation, you want us to be consulted, engaged and behind the process that will ultimately be there. We are the folks who will have to implement it. We are trying to avoid a situation where we cannot come out in support of this policy. Clearly, early consultation under the veil of the conciliation and arbitration scheme would avoid such unnecessary conflict. Our desire and hope is to put it in the right place. The conciliation and arbitration scheme, which was set up to resolve issues of mutual concern to the officials’ side and the representative side, is being avoided.