Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Regarding recruitment and retention, how many enlisted personnel per year have the opportunity to rise to officer rank? I am referring to people who, for example, applied to cadet school but did not make it and slipped through the net but who, after joining the enlisted ranks, turned out to be really good soldiers. I would not be suggesting a quota, but the Defence Forces should consider taking people from the enlisted ranks into officer ranks. It would help with retention because it would show that there was a realistically attainable route for enlisted personnel to move up. The Tánaiste spoke about lieutenants and above but did not refer to non-commissioned officers, NCOs.

I will leave it at that for the moment.