John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste will be very aware that the Defence Forces are now reaching breaking point with members leaving in great numbers. Over the last 12 months, since the publication of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, a further 500 members of the Defence Forces have left. There are very significant pressures on members of the Defence Forces. The critical need to fully implement the working time directive has been highlighted time and again. In the Government's response to the commission's report, the high-level action plan, a number of early actions to be completed within six months of the Government decision, which was taken in July of last year, are indicated. One of these, which had regard to the working time directive, read "Heads of Bill to be finalised with a view to submitting to the Attorney General’s office." It has now been seven months since the Government's decision to implement level of ambition 2 and we have yet to see the heads of any Bill. What is the position with regard to the legislation? Will the Tánaiste touch on the exemptions? What exemptions are being looked at because the directive needs to be implemented in full?

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