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

The responsibility, as the Deputy said, for developing the legislative framework to remove the blanket exemption for the Defence Forces under the Organisation of Working Time Act lies with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We have to get the policy positions finalised to inform the general scheme and the eventual legislation. Formal engagement will commence once that is completed. In the meantime, however, the Deputy can be assured that my officials are actively engaging with officials from the Department of enterprise on an informal basis to update them on progress. It is clearly the expert Department on the working time directive and drafting the legislation. That is not where the delay is. The delay in the past few years has been in getting agreement, but since I came into office last December, I identified this as a clear priority. I am determined to see it through. We will have a milestone by the end of this year. We are making progress. It is accepted that progress is being made, but it is important to maintain the momentum and to get this done.

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