Vol. 536 No. 5
145 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence if seniority is a selection criteria used in the promotion of FCA officers; if so, the authority upon which this is based; and if these procedures are applied in a uniform and consistent manner in all cases and in all commands. [14947/01]
The requirements for the promotion of members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil are set out in Defence Force Regulations R.5, a copy of which is available in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Defence Force Regulations R.5 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. Specified criteria, including seniority, apply in respect of promotion from each 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.
