Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, provides a formal mechanism for the PDF representative associations, RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the official side. Having regard to commitments made under pay agreements, members of the Permanent Defence Force can make representations in relation to their pay and conditions of service through their representative bodies. Where agreement is not reached it is open to both official and representative sides to refer the matter to an adjudicator or an arbitration board to settle the matter. Permanent Defence Force personnel have achieved significant benefits down the years through this process.

When appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for defence, the Permanent Defence Force representative associations brought to my attention, the fact that the current conciliation a arbitration scheme requires some refining so that it can remain fit for purpose for the entire defence organisation.

The conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force has been in existence since the early 1990s and I agree that it is timely to review the scheme.

In this regard, I announced my intention previously to review the conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the permanent Defence Force. The review will start by the end of 2017 and will be guided by an independent chairperson. Officials in the Department of Defence are finalising the terms of reference for that review and I hope to be in a position to circulate this document to the representative associations shortly.

The report of the working group on industrial relations structures for An Garda Síochána will be considered in the course of the review of the arrangements for the Permanent Defence Force

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