Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

How many ranks remain unfilled at the moment? How many officers are acting up? Would he agree with me that if ranks remain unfilled it affects the entire operational capacity of the Defence Forces and could affect their day-to-day running? Some feedback I am getting indicates that if the promotions fail to take place in the near future it will add to frustration and lead to a drain from the forces. With the numbers reduced to 10,000 it is reasonable to expect that all posts within that structure should be filled as soon as possible when it is agreed. How will the moratorium affect promotions in the Defence Forces and the filling of vacancies? Will that not be considered when the new structures are agreed? Will the moratorium affect promotions where vacancies already exist and where people have been more or less informed that they will be placed in certain positions? How will the moratorium affect that? When will these vacancies be filled? Will the moratorium affect the filling of these vacancies or promotions?

We have a new Minister for Defence. When can we expect him to announce a new Chief of Staff?

See this speech in context