Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since coming into office, I have identified this issue as one on which I want to see progress. The heads of the Bill cannot be drafted until the discussions are completed within the confines of the subcommittee of the conciliation and arbitration scheme.

That means discussing with the representative organisations and hearing their concerns, and that is ongoing. It makes sense for us to facilitate those discussions but I do not believe they can go on and on. It is an important aspect of recruitment and retention. We must work on a range of levels to make the environment within the Defence Forces one where people have a quality work experience and a breadth and depth of experience that attracts people to join the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps for a long and fruitful career. This is the ultimate objective and relates to culture and dignity in the workplace, pay and the organisation of working time directive. That is the fundamental issue and it is at the heart of my approach to this.

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