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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Apr 1951

Vol. 125 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Promotion of Second Lieutenants.

Major de Valera

asked the Minister for Defence with reference to his reply to a question of the 14th December, 1950 (Official Report, Volume 123, column 2272) whether the conditions for promotion of second lieutenants of the Reserve of Officers (First Line) have now been prescribed and if he will state the outcome of consideration stated to have been given to this matter.

Since my predecessor's reply to a question on this subject in the House on the 14th December last, it has been decided that, subject to satisfactory service, etc., officers of the Reserve of Officers (First Line) will be promoted from the rank of second lieutenant to lieutenant at the expiration of:—(a) one and a half years' permanent service in commissioned rank plus attendance at two full periods of annual training, or (b) one year's permanent service in commissioned rank plus attendance at four full periods of annual training, or (c) six months' permanent service in commissioned rank plus attendance at six full periods of annual training.

Major de Valera

There is some improvement in that matter. Yet, in the case of second lieutenants who had virtually no permanent service that will still mean a number of years before they can be promoted. Will the Minister state that they will be automatically promoted in any event when these terms are expired?

Would the Minister not consider dealing with this matter on a completely different basis and not have a continuation of second lieutenants in the First Line Reserve for an indefinite period? The difference in cost would be about £1 per officer for the serving period.

The matter has only recently been examined and that is the best that can be done at the moment.

The matter has been under examination since the Government came into office on 15 or 16 occasions. It is a very simple matter. I would earnestly ask the Minister to reconsider the whole matter on the basis of not having second lieutenants in the First Line Reserve.

Major de Valera

After a comparatively short number of years a second lieutenant is no longer fit for the duties of the rank. It is a probationary rank. Will the Minister not consider automatic promotion for such officers on the Reserve, say, after two or three years?

Arising out of both Deputies' supplementary questions, this matter has been considered for a long time. This is a recent decision and I cannot just start and reverse it in a moment. I will have the matter examined. I do not say that a better scheme cannot be evolved.

I take it that the Minister is serious about developing the First Line Reserve.

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