John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The consultation is key to this because there can be no exemptions or derogations without agreement and the associated protections for all members of the Defence Forces. I asked the Minister a specific question because key to the full implementation of the working time directive is the conciliation and arbitration subcommittee that was established in 2019. It is my understanding that committee has not met since then so when we talk about consultation it is safe to say the Minister and his Department have been lacking over a considerable period of time with regard to meaningful consultation on full implementation of the working time directive. I appreciate and welcome the fact he met RACO last week but that was part of an overall broad conversation and not specific to this issue, so there needs to be a commitment from him and Government that whatever comes from the civilian and military management, there is comprehensive agreement through negotiation with the representative bodies to ensure this is fully workable.

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