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Defence Forces Recruitment.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

Questions (1220, 1221, 1222, 1223)

David Stanton

Question:

1291 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the numbers that have taken part and have been commissioned through commissioning from the ranks early commissioning from the ranks electrical and commissioning from the ranks IT, and the numbers that have joined the Defence Forces through direct entry (details supplied) since 1999 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2010/05]

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David Stanton

Question:

1292 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence when the Defence Forces will proceed with the commissioning from the ranks late course as initially proposed by the Feely report on commissioning; the reason, seven years after the flag officer command officers in the Naval Service urgently requested that this course be sanctioned, no progress has been made on this scheme; his further plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2011/05]

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David Stanton

Question:

1293 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of short-term commissions, direct entry appointed in the Naval Service each year since 1997; the appointment of each officer; the number of these officers that currently remain in the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2012/05]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1291 to 1293, inclusive, together.

A total of 28 non-commissioned officers have been commissioned as officers in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service since 1999. The numbers and categories commissioned in each year are detailed in the following tabular statement.

Year

No.

Category

1999

2

2 — Electrical Engineer Officers, Naval Service

2000

18

3 — Information Technology, 15 Line Officers

2001

8

8 — Watchkeeping Officers, Naval Service

Potential officers courses are held for non-commissioned personnel from time to time within the Defence Forces. Personnel who successfully complete such courses are commissioned as officers in the Permanent Defence Force. In addition, from time to time non-commissioned personnel who hold appropriate qualifications are commissioned to fill specialist appointments where vacancies arise. Eligible non-commissioned personnel may also apply for the annual cadetship competitions. Since 1999 a total of nine enlisted personnel have accepted cadetships from the cadetship competitions. The requirement for potential officer courses and commissioning from the ranks competitions is reviewed from time to time and is being specifically addressed in the context of the integrated personnel management system which is one of the major policy initiatives provided for in the White Paper on Defence and in the programme for Government.

Draft conditions governing the appointment of enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force to be officers of the Naval Service are under discussion with the representative associations. As the discussions with the representative associations are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment on any of the specifics of the proposed draft conditions. However, it is my intention that a potential officers course will be run as soon as these discussions are completed. The Feely report referred to by the Deputy was an internal military discussion document and was not endorsed as Defence Force policy. It does not form my Department's policy in the area of commissioning from the ranks.

Since 1998, a total of 32 officers have been appointed on short service commissions from direct entry competitions held to appoint qualified personnel to the Naval Service. The detail of the numbers appointed, by category, in each year are outlined in the following tabular statement;

Year

Number Appointed

Naval Service Category

1998

9

9 Watchkeeping Officers

2000

2

2 Watchkeeping Officers

2001

3

2 Watchkeeping Officers 1 Marine Engineer Officer

2002

8

4 Watchkeeping Officers, 4 Marine Engineer Officers

2003

5

2 Watchkeeping Officers, 3 Marine Engineer Officers

2004

4

2 Watchkeeping Officers 2 Marine Engineer Officers

2005 to date

1

1 Marine Engineer Officer

Of the appointments outlined above, nine watchkeeping officers and eight marine engineer officers are still serving. In addition to the above eight direct entry electrical engineer officers have been appointed to the Naval Service since 2002 and all eight are still in service.
Question No. 1294 answered with QuestionNo. 98.

David Stanton

Question:

1295 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of short-term commissioned officers whose contracts have not been renewed by the Naval Service each year for the past five years even though the officers themselves wanted to remain on as Naval Service personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2015/05]

View answer

The military authorities advise that the information sought is not immediately available due to archival work being carried out at present on the relevant records. I will write to the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available.

Question No. 1296 answered with QuestionNo. 98.
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