Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2024
32. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress to date in ensuring the provisions of the working time directive are applied, where appropriate, to members of the Defence Forces; if he will detail those activities that are deemed outside the scope of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22127/24]
View answer38. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress he has made on ending the blanket exclusion of members of the Defence Forces from the protections of the working time directive. [22046/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 38 together.
I wish to assure the Deputy of my ongoing commitment, as Minister for Defence, to the removal of the blanket exemption which currently applies to the Defence Forces in the Organisation of Working Time Act .
As the Deputy is aware, I recently approved the final management position, on this matter, which was presented to me, following extensive consultations involving the PDF Representative Associations and civilian-military management. I wish to again express my thanks to my officials, military management and the Representative Associations for their significant efforts in bringing this piece of work to a conclusion.
While the military authorities have advised that a high percentage of the normal everyday work of the Defence Forces is already in compliance with the Working Time Directive, the final approved management position provides for the exemption of certain military activities, due to their specific nature and agreed protections.
In order to progress to the necessary legislative stage, I have written to my colleague and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Peter Burke T.D. whose Department has responsibility for bringing forward the appropriate legislative framework for removing the blanket exemption from the Organisation of Working Time Act. To this end, my officials have now commenced formal dialogue with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), on the agreed management position. It would not be appropriate therefore, to share the details of the final management position at this time while the formal engagement is underway.
I'm sure the Deputy will agree that this is a very significant piece of work which will benefit each member of the Defence Forces. The implementation of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces should be recognised as an important retention measure which will ensure that health and safety protections as prescribed in the Directive, are afforded to serving personnel.
Finally, I wish to add that the recently concluded pilot Time and Attendance system undertaken by the military authorities, across a number of areas within the Defence Forces, and the follow-on procurement of a long-term electronic solution, will lead to the development of a robust system to record the daily working hours of every member of the Defence Forces. This will be a critical enabler in taking forward the implementation of the Directive.
