asked the Minister for Defence if he will set up a board which will ensure that promotion in the permanent Defence Forces and in the FCA will be based on ability.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Promotion.
34.
I regard the present procedures for promotion in the Defence Forces as satisfactory.
Earlier today the Minister indicated he accepted responsibility for one promotion. I would say there is disquiet in the Army in relation to promotions——
The Deputy is making a statement.
There is disquiet in the Army in relation to promotions and it seems that the irregular promotions that did take place——
The Deputy is making a statement. He is not asking a question.
I am merely indicating that if a man is serving in Dublin and transferred to Cork, on paper promoted, and transferred back to Dublin on the same day this leaves the way open for distrust among those who feel they are entitled to promotion.
The Deputy continues to make statements.
I want to say quite specifically that I will resign as Minister for Defence if it can be proved that I knew where that man was to be put when I signed the recommendation of the Chief of Staff for his promotion. I want to say equally specifically that, as far as I am concerned, any responsibility for that matter arises with the Chief of Staff and not with me. I signed the recommendation of the Chief of Staff. Attention was drawn by the Minister for Transport and Power and by Deputy Meaney to a belief there was that this promotion was blocking another promotion in Cork.
I immediately raised the matter with the Chief of Staff and he pointed out, as I was trying to point out when I adjourned the debate on the Estimate for my Department this afternoon, that there were certain steps that had to be taken by an FCA officer before he became eligible for promotion; he had no recommendation at this point of time from any officer in Cork for promotion of the person who was mentioned as being set aside. I immediately asked him to do what he could to remove any doubt there might be and he removed the officer from the Cork establishment as supernumerary to Dublin. That is the position and no other position and I resent completely people taking up this small thing as something I did when, in fact, I did not do it, on the basis of creating mischief in the Defence Forces.
Further arising——
We cannot have a debate on this matter at Question Time.
It is a very important question.
It is a common disgrace on the part of Deputy Dowling.
The Minister said he accepted responsibility. I just want to ask the Minister was this man promoted on the instructions of the Minister.
I said I accept responsibility for any promotion.
He was promoted on the Minister's instructions.
That is not so. The person in question was promoted on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff, which I signed.
He was promoted on the Minister's instructions.
I did not so instruct and I wish Deputy Dowling would not go around the Army deliberately trying to put that situation across.
Question No. 35.
This matter has been before the House for a considerable time now and it is a fairly serious matter.
It is a disgrace. Let the Deputy raise it on the Adjournment if he wants to.
Do not get excited now. Deal with the problem.
I will deal with it. Raise it on the Adjournment.