Vol. 406 No. 5
11 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has for the appointment of senior NCOs to posts at staff level at Defence Forces and Command HQs in the rank of sergeant major; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A military review board are at present conducting a fundamental review of establishments in the Permanent Defence Force. The matter referred to in the question is being examined in that context.
Can the Minister of State say when the examination began and when it is likely to be concluded?
I do not have that information to hand. An examination is being undertaken by the Military Review Board. The Chief of Staff is kept informed of progress on the matter. I cannot give the Deputy the information as to when it began or will be concluded.
Does the Minister of State accept that this is a matter of fundamental importance to non-commissioned officers, in that it was specifically recommended by the Gleeson report at paragraph 2.6.3?
I must dissuade the Deputy from quoting.
I am merely referring to the paragraph and reminding the Minister that the recommendation is contained there.
Even so, that stipulation is provided for in respect of Question Time.
I am aware of what Gleeson recommended in his report.
The Minister made no reference to it.
I am aware of it and the matter is being considered. The Deputy should remember that Gleeson made a huge number of recommendations all of which will take some considerable time to be implemented. A lot of progress has been made very quickly in dealing with many of them in that over 60 per cent have been dealt with already. Excellent progress has been made with tremendous co-operation on all sides. The rate of progress has been satisfactory. Nonetheless, there are some matters somewhat more complex than others. We must remember that these matters have been a source of dissatisfaction over many years and will not be resolved overnight, particularly since there are so many of them. Sixty per cent of the recommendations have been agreed already and we are now into the final lap. Hopefully all of the recommendations will be agreed one way or the other within a short period.
As these matters had been a source of dissatisfaction for some time — well before the Gleeson Commission were ever established — and because it is a very specific issue, can the Minister say what is his view and that of his Minister on this simple, straightforward proposal? Can he say whether it is something that has his approval? While I appreciate it is under consideration elsewhere, can the Minister give his view on the matter?
The Deputy is being unrealistic in asking what is my view. These are recommendations of the Gleeson report being discussed by the two parties involved. When they reach agreement — or if they fail to reach agreement — it will come back to the Minister when a decision will be taken.
It would appear that the Gleeson report will be used more to hide behind than something on which to work.
It is an excellent report.
But the Minister is hiding behind it.
If we became involved to too great an extent the Deputy would accuse us of interference.
