Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Defence, further to Question No. 256 of 24 November 2005, if the officers currently exercising command over the army reserve units, engineers, transport, signals and Military Police are PDF officers or reserve officers. [39262/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The military authorities have advised me that consistent with the regulatory requirements as defined in DFR CS4, and Chief of Staff Administrative Instruction CS4, Organisation of the Defence Forces, Staffs, Units and Other Establishments, officers have been appointed as commanding officers of Reserve Engineer, CIS, Transport and Military Police units. These appointments are effective with effect from 1 October 2005, and are filled by officers of the Reserve Defence Force.

Having regard to the voluntary nature of the Reserve Defence Force, in the absence of the commanding officer, the unit second in command, 2 i/c, a PDF officer, commands the unit on a day-to-day basis. However, the commanding officer continues to be the reserve officer and when present he or she automatically assumes command of the unit.