Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

PDFORRA has requested on a number of occasions, in 2002, 2009, 2012 and 2014, to become either affiliated to, or to take up associate membership of, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. These requests raise significant challenges from a governmental and societal perspective, including the risk of subverting the military chain of command requiring consideration. Appropriate systems have been put in place to ensure that the concerns of Defence Forces personnel can be dealt with in an appropriate manner through the conciliation and arbitration scheme. This includes access to independent adjudication. The system continues to operate well and I believe that Defence Forces personnel have achieved significant benefits over the years in this process. Personnel are critical resources for the Defence Forces. Consideration of a request to associate members to ICTU requires us to consider the potential conflicts and divided loyalties that may well arise where the Government decides to deploy Defence Forces in a situation of industrial unrest. In such circumstances it is impossible to escape the unique position of the Defence Forces in the State. For this reason, I regret to inform the Deputy that it is not intended to change the long standing policy on this fundamental matter.

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