Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has read out what the targets are or what is achieved and he said that officers can be abroad or sick and we understand this. It is, however, bad planning if there are ongoing vacancies and absences because of training and other duties. It means that those positions are not filled. In other companies in other walks of life there is the possibility for people to act up into positions so that when somebody is not available the person can step into their shoes on a temporary basis. I understand that this cannot be done with the same authority in the Defence Forces. Perhaps the Minister of State can look at the issue of allowing personnel from a lower rank to step up if a person from a higher ranking post is absent, for whatever reasons.

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