asked the Minister for Defence the text of the oath sworn by members of the Defence Forces on their being commissioned as officers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces' Oath.
25.
The English versions of the forms of the oath or declaration in the case of persons appointed to be officers of the Permanent Defence Force and Reserve Defence Force are as follows:—
1. PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE
"I, ....................., do solemnly swear (or declare) that I will be faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution and that while I am an officer of the Permanent Defence Force I will obey all lawful orders issued to me by my superior officers and will not join or be a member of or subscribe to any political organisation or society or any secret society whatsoever."
2. RESERVE DEFENCE FORCE
"I, ....................., do solemnly swear (or declare) that I will be faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution and that while I am an officer of the Reserve Defence Force I will obey all lawful orders issued to me by my superior officers and will not join or be a member of or subscribe to any secret society whatsoever."
These forms are as prescribed in the Defence Act, 1954.
When the Minister calls this a pledge to Ireland, does he mean 26 counties or 32 counties? Is not part of that a farce. Because an officer does not subscribe to Fianna Fáil, is it not a fact that in recent years he does not get promotion?
The Deputy must not have listened to my reply.
(Cavan): Would it be fair to state that, so long as an officer has subscribed to that declaration or oath and has carried out orders given to him by the Minister for Defence at the time who, the officer has reason to believe, is in good standing with the Taoiseach, the officer is not in breach of that pledge or oath?
That does not arise. It is not even irrelevant.
(Cavan): The Minister need not tell me to go to hell under his breath.
Order.
Revolution has been declared in Kerry South.
The Deputy need not go down there, anyway.