Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 4

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

45 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the progress being made in regard to his commitment to accelerate the possible recruitment of non-nationals to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9014/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Officials from my Department continue to work with the military authorities and with officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and other interested parties to review the current criteria in relation to enlistment with a view to enlisting a larger number of non-nationals to the Defence Forces. All of the issues involved in the review are being examined as expeditiously as possible.

In conducting the review, the existing rigorous selection and security clearance requirements together with immigration and residency criteria laid down by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will always be applied in enlistment to the Defence Forces. A small number of applications for enlistment to the Defence Forces has recently been received from non-nationals and are being examined at present. Vacancies for medical officers in the medical corps were advertised last year and the applications of two non-nationals are currently being processed.