asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that officers of the Reserve of Officers are seriously perturbed by the belief of proposed compulsory resignations and removals from the Reserve of Officers in the near future; and, if so, if he will state whether or not there are any grounds for these rumours.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reserve of Officers.
Mr. Boland
I am not aware of the belief referred to by the Deputy and there is no evidence of any uneasiness that would suggest that officers of the Reserve of Officers are seriously perturbed by such belief.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what decisions, if any, regarding pensions, gratuities, and service of officers of the Reserve of Officers have been taken by him and the reason for those decisions; and, if no decisions on these matters have yet been taken, if he will consider establishing an advisory committee consisting of persons with intimate knowledge of the position of these officers for the purpose of submitting proposals to him regarding the resettlement of these officers in civilian life and the conditions of their future service, including proposals for pensions and gratuities in respect of their service.
Mr. Boland
I assume that the Deputy's question relates to officers of the Reserve of Officers called out on permanent service during the emergency, including officers granted temporary commissions. If that assumption is correct, I would refer the Deputy to my undertaking in this House last week, on the occasion of the debate on the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Bill, 1945, that the Government's resettlement proposals in regard to the Defence Forces would be made known to the Defence Conference at the earliest possible moment. I do not propose to make any statement in the interval as to the details of those proposals, which have been the subject of discussion with the Army authorities. I do not, therefore, consider that the advisory committee suggested by the Deputy would serve any useful purpose.