Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 May 1990

Vol. 399 No. 3

Written Answers. - Army Recruiting.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

44 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the reason no reply or acknowledgment has been received from the enlisted personnel officer, Army Headquarters to correspondence sent by Deputy Eric Byrne on 25 April 1990 relating to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 who was rejected as an Army recruit; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that two members of the family in this case applied to enlist and when one received an interview and the other did not, they were both credited with having been at an interview, the letters being identical; the reason for same, and if he will review the case.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Lenihan)

The person in question was written to on 12 April 1990 informing her of the outcome of her application for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force. The text of the letter was as follows:

1. I am directed to refer to your application for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force and to thank you for your attendance at the recent interview.

2. There was a large number of applicants for the limited number of vacancies, and I regret to inform you that you were NOT among those selected for enlistment.

Due to a clerical error a similar letter was issued to another member of the same family who had also applied for enlistment but failed to report for interview when requested.

In accordance with normal practice the Deputy's letter referred to in the question was transmitted to my Department and a reply has now issued.