Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate what the Deputy has said. The difficulty to date is that it is felt to be inappropriate and that it might be a question of divided loyalties. For example, 2,000 members of the Defence Forces were recently trained to step into the prisons in the event of a threatened prison officer strike. It is felt there might be a conflict of interest in such a situation as they might be affiliated to ICTU, but be used, as it were, to undermine a strike by another section of the public sector. The same thing applies to the Garda Síochána.

With regard to admitting the military to the industrial relations structure, we have been to the forefront of Europe where it is acknowledged, by PDFORRA and more widely, there are excellent mechanisms in place whereby PDFORRA and RACO can make their case to the appropriate authorities. There is also the parallel mechanism which enables them to represent themselves at social partner level. PDFORRA would be the first to admit, and has claimed in my presence at various conferences, that it has gained much from that process. The defence organisation has gained too as a result of closer partnership, co-operation and interaction with PDFORRA and RACO.

The issue of membership of ICTU has been put forward a number of times. It does not apply, as yet, for the Garda Síochána. If there was to be a change, therefore, I would have to talk to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who has the right to decide on whether the Garda Síochána should become affiliated with ICTU.

This request has not been put to me formally since the PDFORRA conference last year. If it wants to come back to me on the matter, I am prepared to look at the situation. To be honest, I do not see how the PDFORRA members are disadvantaged in any way by not being affiliated to ICTU. They do not seem to see a disadvantage either.

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