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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Nov 1984

Vol. 354 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - FCA Promotions.

11.

asked the Minister for Defence if he has any plans to promote FCA officers, NCOs and privates on full-time service on the same basis as the PDF; if he agrees that an anomaly exists in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Officers, NCOs and privates for the Permanent Defence Force may be promoted to fill vacancies in the establishment of the Permanent Defence Force and promotions of members of the FCA, whether they are serving in a full-time capacity or not, are made to fill vacancies in the establishments of the FCA. There are no plans to enable members of the FCA serving in a fulltime capacity to be promoted to fill vacancies in Permanent Defence Force establishments.

I might add that in July 1982, other ranks personnel of the FCA then serving in a fulltime capacity who were under 39 years of age were given the option of enlisting in the Permanent Defence Force under more favourable conditions than would ordinarily apply. In the event, a considerable number enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force and thus became eligible for promotion in the Permanent Defence Force in the normal way.

While I agree about the circumstances referred to in the reply, would the FCA personnel have to go back to the rank of private?

I am afraid I do not follow the Deputy.

I understood the Minister to say that at one time serving FCA personnel on full-time duty were offered the opportunity to come in on a full-time, permanent basis to the Permanent Defence Force. I am suggesting that in those circumstance, for example, serving NCOs in the FCA would have to return to the rank of private in order to do that.

Yes, that would be so. They would not be able to hold their FCA rank when they would enlist in the Permanent Defence Force. That was known to them and did not inhibit them from joining. They got full credit for pay purposes in respect of full-time service in the FCA and there was provision for a shortened potential NCO course. There were certain advantages to members of the FCA coming into the Permanent Defence Force under that scheme.

Would the Minister agree that as the regulations are at the moment, for example, an FCA officer with the rank of lieutenant would have to serve an indefinite period before he would be promoted, whereas in effect a regular Army officer holding the same rank has a set period for promotion to, say, the rank of captain?

Yes, I agree with the Deputy that that is the position, but they are two different establishments with different promotion regimes. In the Permanent Defence Force for lieutenants and captains there is a fixed period for promotion. There is not such a fixed period for promotion in the FCA.

That is the point I am making. Would the Minister agree that there is an anomaly there in view of the fact that two men are serving on a full-time basis with the same rank, one having to wait an indefinite period of promotion and the other having a fixed period, even though they are giving the same service, perhaps even in the same station?

A distinction is to be drawn between the two officers concerned. One is a member of the Permanent Defence Force and the other is on full-time duty as a member of the volunteer reserve forces and he is only a part-time officer, albeit on full-time duty for a part-time indefinite period. Having regard to the ranks establishment of the FCA it is not possible to do what the Deputy implies. I do not think that any hardship is caused or that there is any unrest or unease over the situation, because the person on full-time duty from the FCA is there entirely as a volunteer.

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