Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
149. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the legislative basis for mandatory selection which would compel members of the Defence Forces to serve overseas as part of an EU battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53457/23]
View answerThe Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 Section 4 is the primary legislation governing service overseas.
The authority to mandatory select personnel for overseas service is governed by Defence Forces Regulations, and subject to the administrative process contained in Administration Instruction CS5 – Administration of Overseas Service, which details the circumstances and eligibility for mandatory selection. The administration process for mandatory selection includes an appeal mechanism, also detailed in Admin Instruction CS5.
In the event that there are insufficient numbers of volunteer personnel to fulfil all of the mission specific appointments, I am advised that the Defence Forces utilises a process of Mandatory Selection.
Defence Forces personnel are mandatorily selected for overseas service in accordance with the provisions laid down in the relevant Administrative Instruction.
Personnel that are qualified to fulfil the appointments, but who have not volunteered for overseas service, are identified by their unit and formally interviewed by their Unit Commander. Depending on the individual’s personal or professional circumstances, the Unit Commander will either recommend or not recommend the individual for mandatory selection.
There are further selection criteria applied to those personnel who are considered qualified and recommended for mandatory selection by their Commanding Officer. This includes a provision whereby personnel should not be considered for mandatory selection without the prior approval of Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), if they have returned from overseas service in the previous two years.
