asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of temporary officers who have been interviewed with a view to their receiving commissions in the Regular Army; the number who have received such commissions; if the results of these interviews will be made known to the officers concerned as soon as possible, as while they are awaiting the results, positions in commercial life which would be suitable for the unsuccessful officers are being filled daily; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Regular Army Commissions.
The total number of temporary officers who were interviewed with a view to their receiving commissions in the Forces was 568 and, of these, commissions were offered to 280 officers.
In addition, 178 officers holding commissions in the Reserve of Officers and in the Reserve of Officers (Volunteer Force) were interviewed and 51 of these have also been offered commissions in the Forces.
Thus, of a total of 746 officers interviewed, 331 have been offered commissions in the Forces, comprising four officers of the Reserve of Officers, 47 Volunteer Force Officers, 33 Temporary Volunteer Force Officers, 244 Temporary Officers in the Reserve of Officers and three Marine Service officers.
The results of the interviews—which I may mention were conducted by a board of senior Army officers, consisting of five colonels—were approved by me and were communicated to the headquarters of divisions and commands on the 20th instant for issue to each officer concerned.
Would the Minister say whether his mind has been directed to this very important fact, that while he communicated to headquarters the final and irrevocable decisions of this excellent board on the 20th instant, the last day on which persons who were not going to get a permanent commission, might apply for admission to the special Civil Service examinations which were set up, confined to temporary officers who were not going to be permanently commissioned, was the 1st February with the result that a number of young officers who had hoped to be kept on, did not apply for the Civil Service examination and are now informed that they cannot be kept on and, it appears, will be too late to apply for the examinations which were specially designed for their convenience? Would the Minister consider approaching the Minister for Finance with a view to having further examinations on restricted terms which would make it possible for those officers, who received the decisions after the 20th instant, to sit for these examinations?
The date of the decision was the earliest possible date——
There is no complaint about that.
——at which the news could be released. As far as I am aware there will be repeats of these examinations from time to time. If those young men were not in time for the particular examination to which the Deputy referred, I presume they will be in time for the additional examinations which will be held later on.
May I put this point to the Minister? Inevitably a number of young officers with claims to permanent service were disappointed. I am informed that the Minister, perfectly rightly, is determined that there can be no review whatever of the decision of the boards set up to deal with this matter. These young officers are now at a loss to know what to do. May I ask the Minister if he will not take steps to ensure that those young fellows will not be left knocking about for six or nine months without an opportunity of presenting themselves for a Civil Service examination of this kind and that some opportunity will be given to them to register for the examination forthwith so that they will not be kept waiting for three or four months and can occupy their time studying for the examination? They should not be left suspended like Mahomet's coffin during these critical months.
There are special examinations confined to that particular type held from time to time.
Is the Minister yet in a position to give the date of the next confined examination?
No.
Perhaps the Minister would look into the matter at his leisure.