asked the Minister for Defence when it was decided that service with the United Nation's Interim Force in Lebanon would no longer be of a voluntary nature and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UN Service.
14.
asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that while there are single people willing to volunteer for overseas duty, married people who have not volunteered are being forced to go to the Lebanon; and, if so, the action he proposes to take in the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
In accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 all members of the Permanent Defence Force appointed or enlisted on or after the date of the passing of that Act — 21 December, 1960 — are liable for service outside the State with a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force dispatched for service with an International United Nations Force. While it is policy to send volunteers on overseas service and in general there have been more than sufficient volunteers for such service, this does not exclude the possibility of members of the Permanent Defence Force being detailed to fill specific appointments.
The selection of personnel for overseas service is left to the discretion of the military authorities.
Will the Minister agree that it has been the proud boast of the Irish Defence Forces that all their personnel serving under the UN flag in other countries do so on a volunteer basis? Will the Minister agree that now, following the recent decision of the Minister, the use of the section in the 1960 Act to detail an officer to attend for duty with the UN Forces in the Lebanon is a retrograde step? Will he agree that it is introducing a new element of compulsion into service under the UN flag for Irish Army personnel? Will the Minister agree that it is a pity this should have happened? Would it not have been better for the Minister to have seen to it that this matter was dealt with in some other way so that we could have continued our proud boast that all our men served as volunteers in that great UN force?
It would, indeed, be desirable that every single one of the personnel in the contingent would be a volunteer. The exception has arisen in the case of a very small technical corps and where there is a limited number of men. In order to spread the load evenly between this limited number it was necessary to detail some of those people who had not volunteered.
Will the Minister explain why there is this shortage of some technical personnel which is resulting in such extreme pressures and personal inconveniences on them and their families? If such an unsatisfactory position obtains in regard to technical officers is it not the responsibility of the Minister to set about remedying it? There are plenty of young technically qualified people who must seek employment outside the country and they would be very pleased to serve in the Defence Forces if the Minister opened up those positions to them rather than keeping the numbers down and putting unfair burdens on serving technical officers in some cases.
We are talking about the Army Medical Corps.
I did not refer to it; it was the Minister who referred to it.
Let us not play games. We are talking about the Army Medical Corps and for quite a number of years it was not a career that attracted graduates. I am glad to say that the last number of competitions which I organised have been successful in attracting sufficient applicants of very high quality. I hope that the difficulties the Corps have been undergoing due to lack of numbers for some time, and which did not arise in my time but in the time of my predecessors, will be obviated totally.
Is it true that in recent times there have been adequate numbers applying for the few vacancies advertised? Is there any discrimination being exercised in the Department against females who apply for a post in the Army Medical Corps?
The answer is no.
Will the Minister outline the number of vacancies in the Army Medical Corps for doctors that were advertised last year and so far this year?
If the Deputy puts down a question I will give that information to him. I do not have the information here.
Only a small number would be involved, and if the Minister has facts to substantiate what he has said already in reply to other questions surely he must know the numbers involved?
I do not have that information.
This is not covered by the questions.
How many females are in the Army Medical Corps?
I do not have that information. I do not count the number in the Army Medical Corps, males or females.
The Minister is badly briefed today.
The Minister can get that information from his staff.
I cannot anticipate all the questions Deputy Treacy is likely to ask me.