I understand that concessions have been won by the Garda, which will lead to amendments to the Garda Síochána Act and-or the industrial relations legislation to specifically permit the Garda to access the industrial relations fora of the State, and to affiliate to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. My question is whether similar amendments can be introduced into the Defence Forces legislation in light of the case that is being taken to the European Committee of Social Rights by the armed forces' organisations, namely, PDFORRA and RACO. I had occasion last week to raise the matter with the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, and on foot of doing so my office received a flood of responses from soldiers as well as Naval Service and Air Corps personnel who told me in confidence of the wretched and illegal working conditions they are forced into. They feel an unjustifiable advantage is being taken of armed forces personnel by the Government. Does the Government intend to introduce a similar amendment to grant the same rights to soldiers?

Access to the industrial relations machinery of the State, namely, the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and the Labour Court, was made available to the Garda on an ad hoc basis. Such access will continue on an ad hoc basis until legal provisions are introduced to deal with the matter. I have no intention of presenting a similar case for the Defence Forces, who are an aid to the civil power.