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

The idea that we are insulting anybody is outrageous. There is no intention to do that. We are protecting people from potential embroilment in all sorts of issues. We are maintaining the framework within which the Defence Forces operate. We are advancing it insofar as they will now enjoy statutory underpinning of association membership with ICTU. This is an advance.

To respond to Deputy Howlin's point, I want to be very clear because I double checked with the Attorney General on the "without prejudice" piece in section 2A(1)(g). It gives an absolute comprehensive remit to representative bodies to represent their members in all aspects that affect them. Take the organisation of working time directive as an example. I have had discussions with RACO and PDFORRA on the organisation of working time directive. We have reached agreement on it. It is being legislated for by the Department of enterprise which is the responsible Department. There is no issue there because I have engaged with the associations since I became Minister. I set it as a target to get the organisation of working time directive through. We now have agreement with the representative bodies and military command, and the proposals have gone to be legislated on. I want to be very clear because it is a fair point. I would not want to restrict the role of the associations in representing their members.

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