Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 7

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Regulations.

David Stanton

Question:

163 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the severity of DFR-R5 in the case of adverse annual reports, which may be issued by an officer as low in rank in captain, is excessive, that is, five years loss of seniority and of pay differential in view of the result of the court martial of a PDF commandant in the Curragh Command for an incident which occurred in Lebanon on St. Patrick's Day 1997 which resulted in a fine of £50 and three month's loss of seniority; and the action, if any, he will take on this matter. [9556/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Part XIV of Defence Force regulations R.5 — An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil — prescribes the procedures for completing annual confidential reports which are completed by unit commanders in respect of officers serving in their units. The reporting officer is determined by virtue of his appointment rather than his rank. The award to an officer of an unsatisfactory annual confidential report does not adversely affect his seniority in his current rank. Defence Force regulations R.5 also prescribe that the qualifications normally required for the promotion of officers shall be as laid down in training instructions issued by the general staff. Accordingly, the Adjutant-General's training instruction 33/74 sets out the eligibility criteria for promotion of FCA officers. Different criteria apply in respect of promotion from one rank to the next higher rank. The promotion of an officer is also subject to the existence of a vacancy in the next higher rank in the unit in which he is to be promoted.