asked the Minister for Defence whether he will review Army regulations and custom in the matter of addressing men and NCOs; and whether the practice of emphasising numbers and surnames will be eliminated.
Questions—Ceisteanna. Oral Answers. - Army Regulations.
41.
The method of addressing non-commissioned officers and privates is not prescribed in Defence Force regulations. In practice such personnel are normally addressed orally by rank and surname and this method of address is considered correct and proper. Regimental numbers are only used in oral address where there is a possibility of confusing the identity of personnel of the same rank and surname. Regimental numbers together with surnames and Christian names or initials are normally used in any written communications to soldiers so as to clearly identity the personnel but the necessity for such communications rarely arise.
Normally they should be addressed by rank and surname.
By the officers?
Yes.
The Deputy should hear what the officers are sometimes called by the men.
This custom would appear more appropriate to times that are gone and we might now have a look at our regulations generally from the point of view of the dignity of the human being. We should eliminate numbers where possible.
I agree with the Deputy's views and I endorse what the has said.