Mr. Rossa Mulcahy:

With regard to the question on courses, the intention is that the commissioning from the ranks scheme for the air traffic service will be exclusively for service within that particular unit. There are a number of senior appointments in that. If individuals want to go from one rank to another, they would conduct the normal career course in line with their colleagues in other services.

We are looking at a future promotion system as well. That is something on which we will engage with PDFORRA and RACO to consider how we would do that in the future. For wider direct entry competitions we take anyone in, such as an engineer or a cyber specialist, for example, and they serve a number of years in an engineer or communications and information services, CIS, unit. If they want to advance from one rank to another, they conduct the career courses. It is part of professional development as well as their technical competence. It gives them a sense of assurance and develops them into better leaders in the future. We have no problem with that.