Vol. 411 No. 8
21 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline having regard to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 19 June 1991 relating to an additional service medal for members of the second line reserve, the present position.
Members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí are awarded An Bonn Seirbhise, The Service Medal, on completing seven years' satisfactory service. A bar to the medal is awarded on completing 12 years' satisfactory service and a second bar on completing 21 years' satisfactory service.
Service in An Fórsa is rendered on a voluntary part-time basis and specific Defence Force regulations apply to the organisation and administration of that body. These provide for such matters as the assessment of conduct during service on a broader and more general basis than would be appropriate in relation to the Permanent Defence Force. However, members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and of the Permanent Defence Force are treated similarly in that the completion of specified period of satisfactory service is recognised by the award of service medals and bars. The relevant periods in the case of An Fórsa compare very favourably with what is required for members of the Permanent Defence Force.
As I undertook in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of the 19 June last, I have had this matter examined further and I am satisfied that the present arrangements have full regard to the special nature of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and afford due recognition and reward to its members for long and dedicated years of service.
