asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware of the shortage of uniforms for members of the permanent Defence Forces; and if it is hoped to have this rectified in the near future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Uniforms.
13.
There is at present no general shortage of uniforms for men of the permanent Defence Force. Temporary shortages do occur from time to time, due to unforseeable difficulties. These are usually resolved fairly quickly.
What does the Minister mean by "no general shortage"?
I mean there is no general shortage of uniforms. From time to time difficulties arise in the provision of small items. Teething problems occurred in relation to a new contract for uniforms but these have now been cured. Unforeseeable shortages are likely to occur on occasions but these are of a temporary nature and the problems are resolved very quickly. We had a problem about senior NCOs and, in order to eliminate any possibility of future shortages, the Department recommended to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs—it is they who supply the uniforms — that all uniforms outstanding from a particular tailor, with whom there was difficulty, be taken from him and placed with a more reliable tailor.
The Minister referred to senior NCOs as distinct from privates. Is it now the policy to have uniforms of different material for NCOs from that of privates?
I have no information in that regard. The information I have is that there was an unsatisfactory situation in relation to a certain tailor and recommendations have been made to resolve the problem there.