asked the Minister for Defence the changes that have been made in the recruitment of cadets.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cadet Recruitment.
92.
The conditions governing this summer's cadetship competitions will differ from those which governed similar summer competitions in recent years in the following principal respects:
(1) The educational standard for Army cadetships was previously that of the matriculation of the National University of Ireland and the educational standard for cadetships in the Air Corps and Naval Service was that of the leaving certificate of the Department of Education. Applicants in this summer's competitions for cadetships in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service will be eligible on educational grounds if they have either of the two standards;
(2) All Army cadets appointed as a result of summer competitions in recent years were required to undergo, as part of their training, a first year degree course at University College, Galway. In the case of the Army cadets who will be appointed as a result of this summer's competition, only those with the matriculation standard will be required to attend university;
(3) While Irish will continue to be an essential subject for the purpose of eligibility on educational grounds under either of the standards I have mentioned, candidates for this summer's cadetship competitions will not be required to undergo an oral test in Irish as part of the competitions and no vacancies will be reserved for candidates specially qualified in Irish;
(4) The upper age limit for all cadetship competitions has, in recent years, been 20 years, with an extension of one year for those with certain service in the Defence Forces. The upper age limit for this summer's Army cadetship competition is being raised to 21 years with an extension of one year for those with certain service in the Defence Forces. This is being done so that those candidates who did not qualify in the oral test in Irish in the supplementary competition for Army cadetships held earlier this year will not be debarred, by reason of age, from admission to the summer competition.
Since it appears to be the intention of the Government to abandon the requirement of Irish for officer cadets, will the Minister indicate what he expects the fate of the first battalion will be?
The Deputy is entirely incorrect. The situation is that if, at the moment, the Deputy had to undergo a leaving certificate examination from which he could purchase his matriculation he would be required to do an oral test in Irish. The requirement, which in my view is quite incorrect, that one-third of the places were reserved for people with special qualifications in Irish, and that a further oral Irish test was necessary for admission to cadetship, is now being abandoned. It means that you have got to do your Irish as an ordinary subject. You have got to pass your leaving certificate or matriculation in Irish and, when you have done that, you are fit to be in the Irish Army.
Does this not mean that the Irish Army are now abandoning their traditional position as being one of the primary nurseries which we have had since the foundation of the State for the Irish language? Does the Minister not fear that he is introducing divisions among the officer cadets in so far as he is providing University opportunities for some cadets but not for all of them?
In my view the supplementaries are all incorrect. If a cadet succeeds in a competitive examination, which it really is, in getting a place as a cadet, and if that place does not entitle him to go to Galway University, he can be a cadet and he does not go to the university, but if he has got the university qualification he goes. That is all that is to it. The reservation of one-third of the places for people with special qualifications in Irish goes, as I promised it would go.
Will there be a change in the basic tradition of the Army of giving orders in Irish?
That is a separate question.
There is no question at all of a change in that regard.
Is the Minister satisfied with the one-year cadetship course?
I should like to inquire about that and I will address myself to it. The reservation of one-third of the vacancies for people with special qualifications in Irish in my opinion was most unfair. This requirement was introduced in 1957. That is gone and the nine people who failed their oral Irish test when they were being interviewed for the Army during the spring examination will have a chance in the summer examination. For this one year I have extended the age-limit by one year so that they can get a second chance. Nobody has been disqualified. Those nine people have got their chance. I promised to do it, and I have done it and I have no apologies to make.
I appreciate that the Minister might have appointed them for certain reasons that might not be known to this House. Does he still approve of the fact that only one year is required for a cadet to be made an officer?
That is a separate question. The Minister will not answer a separate question.
Very well. I have already answered it.
Did I understand the Minister to say that Irish was required as a subject in the leaving certificate to enter the Army?
The universities have kept Irish as an essential subject. Therefore, one must pass in Irish and one must also pass an oral test in Irish. That is all I am requiring for the competitive examination for cadets.
Can one pass the leaving certificate without Irish?
Yes, but one cannot go to the university.
Is the university necessary to get into the cadets? If a person passes his leaving certificate without Irish can he qualify as a cadet?
Yes. It is a competitive examination.
We were afraid of that.
You are abandoning Irish for the Army.
I want to change my reply, if I may. Irish will continue to be an essential subject for the purpose of eligibility on educational grounds under either of the standards I have mentioned, namely, matriculation or the leaving certificate, but candidates for this summer's cadetship competitions will not be required to undergo an oral test in Irish as part of the competitions and no vacancies will be reserved for candidates specially qualified in Irish.
That is not the point.
Deputies have been given a lot of leeway on this question.
The point I want the Minister to clarify is whether an applicant who has got his leaving certificate without Irish as a subject can become an Army cadet— yes or no?
No. He must do his ordinary Irish examination.
The next question.