Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would be interested in hearing the Minister of State's personal view on affiliation. He is aware that a motion was passed by the Dáil on 13 June which called for Defence Forces representative organisations to be able to take up associate membership of the ICTU. The Government should accept this position which is the position of the Dáil. The ICTU's national council has since approved, in principle, an application from PDFORRA to become an associate member of congress.

While members of the Defence Forces recognise the unique nature of their service to the State, they should not be disadvantaged as a result. Defence Forces members are the lowest paid of all public servants. When it comes to public sector talks, members of the Defence Forces representative organisations do not have a seat at the negotiating table. That is something that needs to be looked at. Members of the Defence Forces have also been forced to take their case to the European Committee of Social Rights, as the Minister of State pointed out, to have their right to collective bargaining recognised. The committee ruled that the Government was in breach of the European Social Charter in respect of the right to organise, the right to affiliate to a certain organisation and the right to enter into negotiation and collective bargaining.

To allay fears about a military strike, PDFORRA has clearly indicated that it is not interested in securing a right to strike. Its moves to become part of a trade union will not in any way jeopardise national security. Trade union membership is not incompatible with military service. We know this from what happens in other countries. Will the Minister of State confirm that he will not veto PDFORRA's affiliation to the ICTU as an associate member?

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