Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure of the specific number of meetings but the nature and duties of military life in general bring demands that are atypical to other security and emergency services. The directive allows for derogations and compensatory rest.

As I indicated, the Defences Forces have undertaken significant work in examining the nature of the duties of the organisation on how the directive can be applied to its members. I stated that there is a civil and military team working together on this. As I stated to Deputy Ó Snodaigh earlier, the military is to report back to the Department over the next short period regarding some of the work that it has done. I want to ensure that the representative associations will be fully consulted on this work. A volume of work that has been done between both civil and military authorities.

There is a legislative aspect to this as well. It is not merely that we are to implement the directive overnight. This is difficult work and we must look at the needs of the organisation going forward.

I can understand the frustration of people. When we do this, I want to make sure that we get this 100% correct.

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