Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I should have stated when dealing with the previous question that the Deputy's party abolished the service commitment scheme in the Air Corps.

The conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, namely, PDFORRA and RACO, to engage with the official side.

Having regard to commitments made under pay agreements, members of the Permanent Defence Force can make representations in regard to their pay and conditions of service through their representative bodies.

In light of the many changes in the industrial relations landscape since the establishment of the scheme, I initiated a fundamental review of the scheme and appointed Mr. Gerard Barry to conduct the review. A copy of Mr. Barry's report is available on the website of the Department of Defence for all to see.

Following publication of the report, an initial meeting to advance the recommendations in Mr. Barry's report took place between the representative and official sides. Arising from that meeting, the Department of Defence contacted the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, to seek its assistance in progressing the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report through a revised conciliation and arbitration scheme. Officials in the Department of Defence recently wrote to the representative associations advising them of the name of a person suggested by the WRC who can facilitate the process. I am anxious that the parties conclude their discussions as soon as possible and arrive at an agreed revised conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force.

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