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Defence Forces Reserve

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Questions (550)

Duncan Smith

Question:

550. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the criteria for promoting Defence Forces Reserve officers from the rank of lieutenant to captain who were commissioned on or after 1 October 2005; the number promoted each year since 2005 excluding fixed term promotions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/21]

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Written answers

The legislative provision regarding Officer promotions is set out in Part 4 section 45 of the Defence Act.

Defence Force Regulation R5 (New Series) is the governing Regulation for the Reserve Defence Force, and Paragraph 31 therein governs promotions within the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve.

Section 31(2) of the Regulation additionally provides that an Officer of the Reserve, commissioned on or before 1 October 2005, and having attained the rank of Lieutenant, may be promoted to the rank of Captain having served 15 years of service as an officer and having met certain criteria, as laid out in the Regulation.

While promotions of RDF Officers commissioned on or after 1 October 2005 have taken place at different ranks under the provisions of paragraph 31, I am advised that no promotions have taken place from the rank of Lieutenant to Captain, with the exception of the provisions outlined in Section 31(2).

A review of Defence Force Regulation R5 (New Series) is currently being finalised I understand that the Regulation will contain revised procedures, including assessment criteria, under which Lieutenant to Captain promotion competitions will be conducted going forward.

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