Page 7 - Raco 2018

Welcome Address from Association President
Céad míle fáilte roimh ár comhghleacaithe agus cairde On behalf of our our our our the the the RACO membership I I would like to to thank all our our our our committee members members speakers and and guest attendees for for making the the journey to to Fota Island for for our our our our 2018 Annual Delegate Conference Breaking with with recent traditions of holding our our our ADC in in in in in McKee Barracks we choose to hold hold our our our 2018 conference conference in in in in in in in County Cork In line with with our our our Association’s objective “To Champion the the the the the the Wellbeing of of of all Members” the the the the the the principle theme of of of this conference conference is is the the the the the the application of of of the the the the the the European Working Time Directive to the the the the the the Defence Forces The objective of of the the the European Directive Directive 2003/88/EC (the Working Time Directive) is to to enhance the the the the safety and and welfare of of of of of workers by providing “minimum standards with regard to to the the organisation of of of of of working working time time in in in in in respect of of of of of periods of of of of of daily rest rest breaks weekly weekly rest rest maximum weekly weekly working working time time annual leave and and aspects of of of of of night work work work work shift work work work work and and and and patterns of of work” Accordingly it is is is is firmly rooted in in in in in health and and and safety legislation and and and legal jurisprudence in in in in in this area has determined that it cannot be be easily forgone by employers The blanket exemption regarding members of of the the the Defence Forces contained in in in in in the the the Organisation of of Working Working Time Time Act 1997 is is is not not compatible with the the the 2003 Working Working Time Time Directive and it it is is is is likely that an an an amendment to to National Legislation will be required to to provide for our unique status As the the the the leaders and and managers of of the the the the Defence Forces we must ensure that the the the the provisions of of of the the the the the the Working Time Directive where applicable and and appropriate are embraced into the the the realm of of of Defence Defence Forces Forces activities in in in order to to to positively contribute to to to the the the health and safety of of all Defence Defence Forces Forces personnel The Association has invited guest speakers to to conference who have organisational experience in in in in the the the introduction and application of the the the Working Time Directive to to to their security forces Conference participants are encouraged to to actively engage and and participate in in in constructive discussion in in in the the interests of our our organisation and and members Lastly I would like to to to again extend our our sincere gratitude to to to our our guests for for offering their time and and and expertise and and and we look forward to to to a a a a a a a a a a productive and and and engaging conference Commandant Shane Keogh Association President
Annual Delegate Conference 2018 7