Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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107. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces has the same power as the Garda Commissioner in terms of the organisation of work and working times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50336/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Civil and military staff in the Department of Defence have worked closely together on examining issues arising for the Defence Forces related to the Working Time Directive. Military management are fully engaged in this process and a Military Board is currently undertaking further work on this matter.

As I have previously informed the House, a Government Decision dated 18 November 2016 approved the drafting of the Heads of Bill to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. This will remove the blanket exclusions contained in Section 3 of the Act.

Work is underway in Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in conjunction with both the Department of Defence and Department of Justice and Equality towards the progression of this decision. In this context, the process for amending the legislation is the same for both the Defence Forces and an Garda Síochána. This is a work in process and it would be premature to comment on the outcome at this point.

There has been engagement on the Working Time Directive between Defence management and the Defence Forces' Representative Associations, within the framework of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. There will be further engagement in this regard.