Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2019
98. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 1 October 2019, the reason the terms of paragraph 31(1) of Defence Forces Regulation R5 have not been utilised to promote RDF officers commissioned after 1 October 2005 to the rank of captain or the Naval Service equivalent or above; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41400/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDefence Force Regulation R5 (New Series) is the governing Regulation for the Reserve Defence Force and Paragraph 31 thereof governs promotions within the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve.
Following the reorganisation in 2012 and the consolidation of Reserve Units throughout the country, there was a surplus of officers at all ranks except for Lieutenant Colonel. The current strength of some ranks in the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve, as compared to the Establishment, show that the surplus no longer exists.
The Regulation is in the process of being reviewed by the civil and military sides of the Department. In the course of this review, consideration will be given to the construct of the promotion provisions contained in Paragraph 31. As pointed out in the above mentioned Parliamentary Question, the revision of DFR R5 will include criteria for the promotion of any officer in the RDF.
