Vol. 556 No. 4
95 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Defence in regard to the commitment given in the Agreed Programme for Government, when the new integrated personnel management system for the Defence Forces will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20510/02]
101 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Defence in regard to the commitment given in the Agreed Programme for Government, when the promised new career development plan for the Defence Forces will be introduced; the main features of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20509/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 101 together.
A draft integrated personnel management system, or IPMS, has been prepared by the military authorities and is under consideration by the Department's civil-military strategic management committee. The new career development plan is to be encompassed by the IPMS. When the strategic management committee has completed its deliberations, it is expected that a further draft of the IPMS will be submitted to the Minister for his consideration. Before any final decisions are made, it is the Minister's stated intention that PDFORRA and the RACO will be consulted in a spirit of partnership in accordance with the system of representation.
The requirements which the IPMS must meet are set out in section 4.5 of the White Paper on Defence. In simple terms, the IPMS will deal with the broad range of personnel and human resource management and development issues. These include manpower policy and planning, equality of opportunity and treatment and the right to dignity at work, recruitment, terms of enlistment, induction, training education and development, physical and medical fitness, career guidance management and development, promotion, the regulatory framework, retirement, and pensions.
