The Minister for Defence is slightly indisposed and I am taking this Bill for him. The Bill is the annual Bill to maintain the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Acts in force. This year it is somewhat longer than usual but the various sections have been fully explained in the memorandum which has been circulated already. They include provisions which are already contained in certain Emergency Powers Orders and which are now incorporated in this Bill because their continued operation will be necessary when the Emergency Powers Acts expire.
The first of the Emergency Powers Orders in question is the No. 362 Order of 1945 which relates to desertion or absence without leave during the emergency period and the provisions of which are repeated in Section 13 of the Bill. Other Emergency Powers Orders incorporated are the No. 285 Order of 1943, relating to solicitors' apprentices, which is now repeated in Section 14 of the Bill at the request of the Incorporated Law Society and the No. 17 Order of 1939, contained in Section 21, which relates to the wearing of foreign military uniforms in the State and the provisions of which are in accordance with general international practice. In addition, it has been thought desirable to retain the provisions of the Emergency Powers (Service Textile Articles) Order, 1943, in so far as it relates to uniform and equipment of the Defence Forces. The necessary provision is made in Section 18 of the Bill.
Other sections consolidate and amplify existing provisions in the Defence Forces Acts. These are Section 10, relative to relinquishment of commissions by officers of the reserve; Section 11 which deals with the effective dates of appointment, dismissal, resignation and retirement of officers and Section 19, which makes the unauthorised use of Defence Forces medals and decorations an offence. The establishment of An Fórsa Cosanta Aitiúil as a component of the reserve necessitates the provisions now being made in Sections 4, 5 and 15. Section 9 preserves the right to reinstatement in their former civilian employment, for reserve and emergency personnel who recently undertook new reserve engagements. Sections 16 and 17 provide against the improper wearing of the uniform of the Defence Forces. The remaining sections of the Bill, the majority of which are of an administrative nature, call for no particular comment.