asked the Minister for Defence if he will make arrangements to have the duties of soldiers who are detailed as officer orderlies published in Routine Orders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duties of Office Orderlies.
34.
With few exceptions, it is not the practice to publish in Routine or Standing Orders the duties of soldiers and it is not proposed to do so in this case. The question of orderlies generally is being examined.
I do not want to pursue the matter too far but will the Minister state whether private soldiers when joining the Army will be made aware of their rights and given information as to whether their duties will consist in being employed as maids, children's nurses, various kinds of domestic helps and God knows what else, rather than in the capacity of soldiers?
I had some complaints about this and the matter is being examined. I am not in a position to say what the results of that examination will be.
Will the Minister bear in mind that quite a number of soldiers have been employed in the manner I mentioned and that they have not been available for guard duties and other duties, thereby imposing much hardship on the limited number of privates available in the Army?