Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Defence if a grievance of a member of the Army nursing service in the Defence Forces, which involves allegations of bullying and harassment, has been referred to the Labour Relations Commission at the request of the injured party; if so, the reason the Defence Forces continue to refuse to engage directly with the trade union representing the injured party; his views on whether it is acceptable that correspondence from the Defence Forces of 9 March 2010 and 18 May 2010 would issue when the matter is still the subject of investigation by the Labour Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25679/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the military authorities that they have not been put on notice of any grievance by a member of the Army Nursing Service (ANS) which involves allegations of bullying and harassment having been referred to the Labour Relations Commission at the request of the member concerned or a third party. Any referral of a complaint to the LRC is a matter for the individual concerned.

Members of the ANS have recourse to a Redress of Wrongs Process under Section 19 of Defence Force Regulation A14, which allows a complaint to be dealt with up to the level of the Director of the Medical Corps. Upon completion of this process if the member is not satisfied with the outcome they are entitled to avail of the full range of industrial relations machinery which is available to employees generally.

A member of the ANS did lodge a formal complaint dated 25th May 2009 with the military authorities under the provisions of Redress of Wrongs Process under Section 19 of Defence Force Regulation A14. Representations were received on behalf of the individual from the Industrial Relations Officer of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) as part of this process. The Acting Director of the Medical Corps issued her ruling on the Redress of Wrong complaint directly to the complainant on 7 May 2010. The specific correspondence referred to by the Deputy related to the complainant's anticipated return to work.