4 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the coming into operation of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990 he will agree to the setting up of a representative association for members of the FCA; and if he will give statutory effect to such an association.

Considerable progress has been made on the establishment of representative associations for officers and enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force. When the arrangements in that regard have been finalised and some experience gained regarding the operation of the new system the question of appropriate arrangements for the Reserve Defence Force will be examined.

In that connection, however, I should say that the rates of pay of the FCA while on annual training are the same as those applicable to the Permanent Defence Force and all increases for the latter are automatically extended to the FCA.

I am happy there is some type of commitment to the setting up of the association which I envisaged in this question. Would the Minister not agree, given that the remuneration and conditions of up to 15,000 members of the FCA are inadequate and in many cases substandard, to do the honourable thing and give a general commitment this afternoon that he will set up that body?

First things first. We want to get the representative association for the Permanent Defence Force up and running. We are approaching a degree of finalisation on the regulations for that purpose. We can then consider the other matter. We will take it step by step. We have made a lot of progress. There is no question but that the issue will be considered.

Would the Minister not agree that it is a scandal that members of the FCA who are injured during the course of their service on duty and who are out of work, resulting in a loss of salary, do not receive compensation until they can prove negligence by the Defence Forces? Is this not a reason we should have this representative body established as a matter of urgency?

There are a lot of reasons and I am sympathetic to them. This issue will be considered but we want to get the present matter out of the way in regard to the Permanent Defence Force. That can follow as an ancillary to that decision when it is taken.

Let us now come to deal with Question No. 5. The last remaining question in the name of Deputy Nealon will be taken now.