asked the Minister for Defence (1) the length of time Mr. John Keating, 21 Grinell Terrace, Mullingar, County Westmeath served in the Army; (2) what his Army record was; and (3) why he has been refused permission to re-enlist although the Army is short of men and this man is only very little over the upper age limit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Re-enlistment Applicant.
56.
Mr. John Keating, 21 Grinell Terrace, Mullingar, County Westmeath, enlisted in na Buan Óglaigh on 16th March, 1944, and was discharged on 16th September, 1959. His conduct on discharge was rated as "Very Good". The upper age limit for re-enlistment in na Buan Óglaigh for general service is 38 years and as Mr. Keating is over that age, his re-enlistment is not permissible under the terms of Rialacháin Óglaigh na hÉireann.
Would the Minister say by how much Mr. Keating is over the age?
Less than a year.
In view of the fact that the Minister is finding it extremely difficult to get recruits, is it reasonable that a trained NCO, who has given long and good service to the Army, should be debarred from rejoining, if he wishes to do so, because he is less than a year over the age? If he was applying for civilian employment is it not a fact that the Army service would count in order to extend the upper age limit? In this case the right to enlist was refused. Would the Minister reexamine the position?
The Deputy knows as well as I do that special age limits must be applied in the case of military service.
The Deputy is as well aware or almost as well aware as the Minister that it is extremely difficult to get decent type recruits and it is wrong to turn down people who would be useful to the service.
The remaining questions for oral answer will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
It was agreed to take them today.
I am always against setting aside any precedents.
When the Government came to us yesterday, saying they wanted to change the business for reasons that were good and sufficient, that was one of the things that was arranged.
The remaining questions for oral answer will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.