Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will grant the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association access to a conciliation and arbitration scheme as they are the only representative body in the Defence Forces which are denied this industrial relations machinery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8882/07]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will grant the Reserve Defence Force access to a conciliation and arbitration scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8851/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 153 together.

Defence Force Regulations S.7 and its enabling legislation, the Defence Amendment Act, 1990, provide for representative structures for members of the Defence Forces including the Army and Naval Reserves. The question of a Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the ranks represented by the Reserve Defence Representative Association (RDFRA) has been raised by representatives of the association in the past. I am conscious that RDFRA presents substantial issues on behalf of members. However, I do not feel that a C&A scheme is warranted. The PDF C&A scheme addresses issues affecting the livelihood of members of the PDF. The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is a voluntary organisation and members are not dependent on it for their livelihood. Members of the RDF automatically accrue the benefits of improvements in pay and conditions made to their PDF colleagues.

There are three (3) Conciliation and Arbitration Schemes in the country covering Teachers, Civil Servants and the Permanent Defence Force. Each covers an organisation with very large numbers of permanent employees.

Under existing arrangements, RDFRA has open access to both the Department and the Military Authorities. A number of meetings take place each year between the Association and officials of the Department and separately between the Association and the Military Authorities. The frequency of this interaction has increased in recent times reflecting the modernisation agenda that is being progressed. My Department has recently initiated a joint forum where RDFRA, the Military and officials from the Department meet to collectively discuss and progress areas of concern to members of the RDFRA. Any issues within the scope of representation (as set out in the C&A Scheme for RACO and PDFORRA), which the Association wishes to raise, are dealt with at these fora.

Significant progress is being made in the modernisation of the Reserve. The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan, which was formally launched in 2004, is progressing well. There is great credit due to both the members of the Reserve and their Representative Association for their contribution to this progress. Much work remains and ongoing dialogue between the Department and RDFRA is essential to the successful completion of the modernisation agenda. I remain sensitive to the concerns of RDFRA but am satisfied that there are processes in place to ensure that any issues that arise can be discussed and progressed. I will of course keep this situation under review to ensure that the good progress made to date continues into the future.