Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the timeframe in which he believes members of the Defence Forces will see their blanket exclusion from the protection of the Working Time Directive 2003 removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45254/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am very pleased that this significant Government commitment is now nearing fruition and that members of the Defence Forces are soon to be brought within the scope of the Directive.

Extensive work has been undertaken to date between my officials and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to progress the removal of the blanket exemption of the Defence Forces from the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 by way of a Statutory Instrument under the European Communities Act 1972.

Furthermore, my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, TD. has confirmed his intentions to have this Regulation enacted by the end of the year.

As the Deputy will appreciate, this is a very positive development and this body of work has been a priority for myself, Minister Burke, Minister Higgins and the wider Government. My officials and officials in Enterprise, Trade and Employment have been working to progress this important priority.

The Military Authorities have previously determined that the vast majority of activities are compliant with the Directive. As part of the management position approved by me earlier this year however, I have approved a series of health and safety protections for a number of activities deemed to be outside the scope of the Directive due to their nature. These protections will be implemented as part of the overall package underpinning the implementation of the Working Time Directive.