Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Force Promotions.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

7 Mrs. Taylor Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the criteria used by the interview board for promotions to the rank of brigadier general; if he has satisfied himself that the recommendations of the Gleeson report were fully complied with; if he will outline his views on the present unrest among the officer personnel; if he will further outline the action he proposes to take to alleviate existing concerns before further interviews for promotion are held within the Army; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

28 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the Gleeson recommendation which involves the phasing out of promotions within the Defence Forces based exclusively on seniority has been adhered to in respect of the recent promotions for senior posts in the Army.

Patrick McCartan

Question:

32 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the concern which arose among many officers about recent promotions, he will consider taking steps to ensure that all interview panels would include a representative of RACO; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. Daly

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 28 and 32 together.

The Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces recommended that the system of promotion heretofore in operation in the Permanent Defence Force which was based almost exclusively on seniority should be changed to a system based on merit.

The Commission recommended that the new arrangements should be implemented without delay.

It advised, however, that changes proposed in relation to minimum potential service in the higher rank should not apply for a period of five years.

The Commission recommended that Promotion Boards should be used to assess and interview candidates.

In the case of promotion from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier-General it recommended that the Board should consist of the Chief of Staff, the Adjutant-General, the Quartermaster-General, the Assistant Chief of Staff and a civilian member appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Civil Service Commission.

To provide for the new promotion system in connection with the five Brigadier-General vacancies which were filled recently an amendment to Defence Force Regulations was made and a Promotion Board was established as recommended.

Criteria for the promotion of Officers are laid down in the Regulations.

The Promotion Board was required to certify that a candidate (a) was fitted to fill an appointment in the higher rank, (b) had given evidence of reliability, devotion to duty, zeal, industry, ability, initiative, leadership, and (c) had been recommended for promotion, in addition to a number of other factors.

The Board arranged preliminary interviews and following a second interview recommended a number of candidates to fill the vacancies. I accepted the recommendation.

Arrangements for promotion at other officer levels are being drawn up and will be put in place as quickly as possible.

The elected representatives of officers were afforded an opportunity to express their views in the formulation of the arrangements for the filling of the Brigadier-General posts and will be consulted in the next stage of the develpment of the promotion system.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

Is the Minister aware that the day before the interviews took place notice was issued by Army headquarters of a board set up to examine the Gleeson Commission's recommendations and make proposals for a promotions system and to consider the recommendations of the Gleeson report? In fact at the time of the interviews the recommendations had not been complied with; in fact the system was not properly established. Is the Minister not further aware that four of the colonels appointed to the position of brigadier general did not in fact hold the necessary qualifications, that is, the position of colonel for two years? Would the Minister please let this House know what his view is on that irregularity.

Mr. Daly

I am quite satisfied that the recommendation was widely accepted by the Defence Forces. The Commission that recommended that this new system of promotion on merit would be put in place stated quite clearly that they were absolutely convinced of the urgent necessity to introduce an officer promotion system based on selection by merit. Everybody, especially those involved and eligible for participation in that competition was fully aware of the details of how this decision was arrived at and why this line was taken. It was also widely welcomed by the people in this House.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

Can the Minister explain to the House why paragraph 2210 of the Gleeson report was not complied with in relation to the qualifications of those who were promoted; and why colonels were promoted to the position of brigadier general where it was absolutely necessary that they would have previously held a command position but practically all of those appointed were not in a command position at the time of appointment? Would the Minister agree that that was a grave irregularity?

Mr. Daly

I made it clear that the changes proposed in relation to minimal potential service in a higher rank should not apply for a period of five years. That was stated in the Commission's report. The Commission were quite adamant that this new system should be put in place as a matter of urgency. They also recognised that in the initial stages matters like this would arise but that in the long term the system based on merit was far superior and would have a better effect on morale throughout the Defence Forces. I believe that is the position.

An Ceann Comhairle

I want to get on to other questions.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

Is the Minister then suggesting that appointments in the Army up to now did not actually take place on merit? Is the Minister suggesting that merit was not a consideration in relation to promotion in the Army?

Mr. Daly

I do not really know what the Deputy is getting at. If she is criticising the new system, she should say so.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

The Minister knows exactly what I am getting at. I am asking the Minister specifically if merit was a consideration in promoting Army officers before now? Was it or was it not?

Mr. Daly

It is absolutely essential that merit would always be a consideration but it was clearly and straightforwardly explained by the commission that one of the most important issues in this whole commission document was the implementation of this recommendation which we are doing with the urgency which the commission attach to it. The people in the Defence Forces generally are very pleased with this.