Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2005
214 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if the integrated personal management system report has been completed; when he expects to be in a position to sanction the next commissioning from the ranks late course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7468/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe White Paper on Defence and the programme for Government recognise the importance of offering rewarding and challenging careers to Defence Forces personnel. In this regard, both provide for the preparation of an updated and comprehensive plan for an integrated personnel management system, IPMS, to address this and related issues. Initial proposals for an IPMS were developed by the military authorities and then referred to the top level civil-military strategic management committee for further development.
Following that process, key IPMS elements are now being implemented in agreement with the representative associations in the context of Sustaining Progress. It is intended that the process will be further developed in the context of the proposed development of a Defence Forces human resources strategy which will provide the overall framework to address all personnel issues, including those raised in the IPMS.
It is against that broad background that discussions are now taking place with the representative associations on the induction of officers to the Permanent Defence Force — Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. The question of commissioning from the ranks, CFR, is being considered in the context of those discussions. I cannot say at this stage when any CFR competition might take place.
