asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details as to the manner and method in which individuals who wish to join the Defence Forces are assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Defence Forces Recruitment .
20.
(Dún Laoghaire): I assume the Deputy is referring to applicants for enlistment as recruits in the Permanent Defence Force. The detailed procedure for such enlistment is prescribed in Defence Force Regulations A. 10, a copy of which is available in the Dáil Library. Briefly, the procedure is that the applicant fills out a form giving basic information about background and circumstances. The application is then processed in accordance with the regulations and, if the applicant is considered generally suitable for enlistment by the military authorities, he is called to an interview. If the result of the interview is favourable, the applicant is required to undergo a medical examination to determine medical suitability for service in the force.
: Can the Minister of State tell us whether persons wishing to join the Defence Forces at present can do so?
(Dún Laoghaire): There was a suspension of recruitment in 1981.
: I am talking about 1983.
(Dún Laoghaire): At the moment the application form is sent out and is received by the military authorities and held until such time as recruitment is recommenced.
: I take it that at the moment the position is that a young person who wishes to join the Defence Forces as a private may not do so because he will not be accepted into the Defence Forces.
(Dún Laoghaire): The form will be received and when recruitment recommences he will be contacted.
: Can the Minister of State inform the House whether in the Estimates for the Department of Defence for 1983 any provision has been made to cater for the recruitment of persons wishing to join the Defence Forces in 1983?
(Dún Laoghaire): The Deputy will agree that that information was not sought in the question. Therefore, I could hardly be expected to supply it now.
: Recruitment is suspended for the whole of 1983?
(Dún Laoghaire): The same as last year.
: When will recruitment recommence for the Permanent Defence Force?
(Dún Laoghaire): That is a separate question. If the Deputy likes to table a question I will arrange for the information to be made available to her.
: Will there be recruitment in 1983?
(Dún Laoghaire): That is a separate question. I have not got the information available.
: Would it not be fair to young men——
: And young women.
: ——to tell them that they are wasting their time in making applications, filling out these forms and having them recorded as the Minister said? Would it not be much better, fairer and more honest to tell them: "We are not accepting any recruits and, therefore, we are not giving out any application forms"?
(Dún Laoghaire): The Deputy is making a statement. That is his opinion.
: It is a bit of a con job.