Vol. 466 No. 2
13 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence whether the matter of the introduction of the short service commission has been negotiated with the Commissioned Officers' Representative Association as was promised to the association by him and in accordance with the defined scope of the conciliation and arbitration for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11254/96]
The question of a short service commission was stated in the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan as a proposition for special study. This special study will be undertaken during phase I of the plan and appropriate proposals brought forward. Such short service commissions are to be found in the armies of other states and the concept has initial attraction in the context of the present imbalance in the PDF officer crops, between senior and junior officers. Its suitability for Irish circumstances, however, requires further examination.
When a policy in this regard has been formulated, the representative association will be consulted in accordance with the defined scope of the conciliation and arbitration scheme at an early date.
Does the proposed short service commission represent a precedent in the history of the military college? Will those who will be taken on under that commission be entitled to the same facilities as the ordinary cadet vis-á-vis third level education?
A special study will commence within the next three months. The real problem, that of the age profile of the officer crops, has been the subject of much criticism in various reports presented during the recent years. The proposed introduction of a short service commission would be with a view to preventing a recurrence of the present position. The questions posed by the Deputy would be a matter for the special study and for detailed discussion with the representative association. Short service commissions are not uncommon in other armies — there is a three year commission in Britain. It will depend on the period decided following discussions as to whether officers will have an opportunity to attend university or the particular role they will play within the structure of the Defence Forces, but the concept of a short service commission is being examined.
I hope that during the next few months the Deputy will have an opportunity to table further questions to which I will be able to reply following the special study. I will be only too pleased to discuss these and any questions he may have concerning the proposals under consideration. When the various proposals are put together, we will be anxious to discuss them with the representative association, bearing in mind that it will be done in the context of not allowing what happened in the past to recur.
It is important that the those who serve in the Defence Forces get job satisfaction and are not frustrated because promotions are blocked. I do not want that to happen again in the Defence Forces. I will be only too pleased to answer further parliamentary questions tabled by Deputy Clohessy in a few months' time when the special study will have been carried out.
That concludes Question Time for today.
Is Question Time over? That is a farce.
Question Time officially finished at 3.50 p.m.
