Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 3

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.

Jack Wall

Question:

108 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the provisions he has made to recruit sufficient qualified members to all services, particularly medical, engineering, ordnance and chemical expertise, to ensure adequate responses to the heightened threat to international security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31862/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The Office of Emergency Planning was established by Government decision on 2 October. The office is staffed by both military and civilian personnel at a senior level. The staff of the office can draw on many years experience of civil and military emergency planning dealing with complex issues in the nuclear, biological and chemical fields.

In relation to the Defence Forces, the position is that preparations for competitions for the appointment of medical and dental officers to the medical corps and engineer officers to the Army ordnance corps are in the final stages and it is envisaged that these competitions will be advertised early in 2002. Three medical officers and seven engineer officers have been appointed during 2001.