Written answers

Thursday, 23 February 2006

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Personnel

4:00 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received a report from the chief of staff of the Defence Forces further to his request for an investigation into whether or not some members of the Defence Forces had taken leave or career breaks in order to take up lucrative contracts in Iraq; his views on whether such behaviour is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7181/06]

Photo of Ciarán CuffeCiarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the investigation of the Defence Forces and the report subsequently produced, into the alleged participation of Irish Defence Forces personnel while on career breaks in armed forces or other paid employment in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7481/06]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 37 together.

I am aware that there were some media reports along these lines last year. The military authorities advise me that they have no knowledge of any serving Permanent Defence Force personnel, who are on career breaks from the Permanent Defence Force being in Iraq. Nonetheless, at the time when these media reports appeared, the military authorities wrote to all personnel who were on career breaks and reminded them of the conditions under which their career breaks had been granted.

I also understand that in July 2004 the deputy chief of staff, support, sent a routine circular to general officers commanding and to formation commanders reminding them of the conditions under which a career break may be granted and that personnel granted a career break may not engage in any activity whatsoever that may bring adverse publicity on the Defence Forces or that may bring the Defence Forces into disrepute.

It must be emphasised that the Defence Forces would act upon any information which indicates that any person was acting in breach of the conditions of the Permanent Defence Force career break leave of absence regulations. A career break may be declared invalid if used for a purpose other than the three categories specified under the schemes, which are leave for domestic responsibilities, further education or travel abroad.

In submitting applications for special leave under the career break schemes, personnel are required to specify the purpose of the career break and the period for which it is being sought. All personnel on career breaks remain subject to military law in accordance with the provisions of sections 118 and 119 of the Defence Act 1954 as appropriate.

All personnel applying for a career break must note that they understand the conditions governing the granting of special leave for career breaks, as specified in Defence Force Regulations and Instructions.

As a condition of their special leave on a career break, personnel are required to undertake to notify the deputy chief of staff, support, of any change of address for correspondence purposes within one month of such change and to respond promptly to any correspondence from the deputy chief of staff, support, concerning their intentions on the expiry of a career break, or on any other matters concerning their career break, and to return to duty on such date as is determined in accordance with the conditions of the respective career break schemes.

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