Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will address the ICTU question first. PDFORRA has requested on a number of occasions to either become affiliated with or to take up associate membership of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. These requests raise significant challenges from both a Government point of view and a societal perspective. We also have to take into account the risks of impinging on the military chain of command, which requires detailed consideration. The request for associate membership of ICTU requires us to consider the potential for conflicts and divided loyalties that may well arise when the Government decides to deploy the Defence Forces for the maintenance of essential services. The ability of the Defence Forces to perform all their duties as assigned by the Government cannot be impeded by affiliation with any organisation. My officials are currently engaging with ICTU on this issue and I am awaiting a full and comprehensive report, which I am not going to rush. I want a comprehensive report in order that I can consider the findings and make a recommendation to the Government, whatever that may be. We have to carefully consider this because this is a broad move away from what we have had in the past.

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