Vol. 434 No. 10
16 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to change the present system whereby a soldier seeking to transfer from one barracks to another has to find a corresponding soldier in the other barracks who wishes to do a reverse transfer.
Under the provisions of Defence Force Regulations the posting or transfer of personnel of the Defence Forces is a matter for the appropriate military authority. In that regard I understand that while the availbility of a replacement may help to facilitate a transfer, this is not a necessary condition for consideration of an application.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): In practice it may be the case. Does the Minister not agree that circumstances can change and a different barracks may suit better? Is it not time that the Army considered the personal lives of those who serve in the Army?
All that is taken into consideration as a matter of practice. Personnel in the Defence Forces may apply for a change of posting or transfer to another unit in accordance with the Defence Force Regulations. The commanders of the parent unit and the proposed unit are required to give their observations before the matter is forwarded for a decision to the brigade commander or the general officer commanding the command. In the event of an applicant applying to move outside the command, the general officer commanding the command is required to give his observations and recommendations. If agreement cannot be reached the matter can be then appealed to the Adjutant General. When applying for a transfer the availability of a replacement may facilitate the request, but, as I said in my reply, it is not necessarily a condition for consideration of the application.
I can make available, if they are not already there, copies of the regulations and I will place them in the Dáil Library.
If the Deputy has a particular case or cases he wishes to bring to my attention, I will deal with them personally. I would like to think that the Defence Forces can deal with problems of this nature and it should not be a matter for the Minister.
May I advise the House that in approximately three minutes, in accordance with Standing Order 36 (iii), I shall proceed to deal with questions to the same Minister in respect of the Department of the Marine.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): I thank the Minister for his offer and I will supply him with the details. The theory in respect of transfers may look fine on paper, but in practice people wishing to transfer will be told to find somebody to swap with them. I will contact the Minister in respect of the matter.
