Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. My colleague, the Minister for Defence, is aware of the interest in the issue and recently spoke on it in the House.

I will commence by outlining the background to the current upper service limits applicable to personnel who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, after 1 January 1994. Due to the robust nature of many military operations and their attendant physical training regimes, personnel are exposed to a unique range of challenging environments. In these circumstances, it is vital that the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised. In 1990, the Gleeson commission commented on the unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of members of the PDF. Thereafter, an in-depth study of the Defence Forces which was compiled by the then Price Waterhouse consultants - who were engaged by the efficiency audit group, EAG - and published in 1994 expressed severe criticism of the age profile of members of the Defence Forces. The EAG's report was accepted by then Government in 1995. The findings contained in this report reflected the serious concerns which the military authorities had held for a number of years in respect of the age profile of members of the Defence Forces.

The current terms of enlistment for general service recruits arose as a result of the criticisms in the EAG report. One of the key areas identified for urgent action by the EAG was the development of a manpower policy, with an emphasis on lowering the age profile of Permanent Defence Force personnel. In an effort to alleviate the situation, the Government that was in office in 1993 had already decided to enlist personnel on a five-year contract basis, following consultation with Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA. In 1997, agreement was reached with PDFORRA on a new manpower policy for the Defence Forces. This policy, applying to personnel enlisted after 1 January 1994, provided that service for private soldiers would initially be for five years, with the option to be extended to a maximum of 12, subject to meeting standards of medical and physical fitness and conduct. Longer periods of service were envisaged for non-commissioned officers. In 2004, PDFORRA submitted a claim under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for a further review of the terms of service applying to personnel enlisting in the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994. A set of criteria was agreed with PDFORRA to provide longer careers for those who enlisted post-1 January 1994, while continuing to address the Government's objective of having an appropriate age profile to meet the challenges facing a modern military.

The criteria require that any person re-engaging after 12 years' service must be able to continue to operate at his or her current level, both at home and overseas, on an ongoing basis. Re-engagement is subject to the individual soldier meeting specified criteria in regard to physical fitness, medical category, successful completion of military courses of instruction, service overseas and conduct ratings. The maximum service period for these personnel is as follows: enlisted personnel, up to and including the rank of corporal - and equivalent Naval Service rank - may not serve beyond 21 years; enlisted personnel, in the rank of sergeant may be permitted to continue in service up to the age of 50 years; and enlisted personnel in all higher ranks may serve to the age of 56.

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