asked the Minister for Defence if it is proposed to make any alteration in the educational requirements for Army cadetships.
Ceistéanna—Questions Oral Answers - Army Cadetships.
18.
The question of the educational qualifications which candidates in the next competition for Army cadetships will be required to possess is at present being considered.
Is the Minister aware that the week before last he gave the impression that, arising from the Government's policy on compulsory Irish, he thought oral Irish would no longer be necessary?
If I gave that impression I did not intend to give it. I indicated that there was a problem. The Government policy is there for anyone to see. The situation is that 27 cadets were disqualified because they did not pass the oral Irish test. Of those 27 cadets, 18 were young enough to take the examination again, and nine were not. I indicated, last week or the week before, that that was one of the things that had to be considered. That consideration is proceeding. I can say no further than that. There is no desire in any way to downgrade the Irish language.
The Minister is aware that he related it to compulsory Irish? It is in the Official Report.
I indicated quite clearly and openly to the Dáil the position of 27 cadets. That is as far as I went.