Written answers
Thursday, 26 October 2006
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Reserve
5:00 pm
Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of appointments unfilled at commandant and captain rank by brigade in respect of the Reserve Defence Force; the reason promotions have not been made to fill them; and the number of officers who did not apply for an appointment in the RDF who have been interviewed to determine if they wish to continue in service. [34920/06]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Military Authorities have advised that the number of appointments unfilled at Commandant and Captain rank by brigade in respect of the Reserve Defence Force are as shown in the table.
| Commandant | Captain | Lieutenant-Commander (Naval Service) | Lieutenant (Naval Service) | |
| 2 Eastern Brigade | 14 | 25 | N/A | N/A |
| 1 Southern Brigade | 7 | 18 | N/A | N/A |
| 4 Western Brigade | 14 | 20 | N/A | N/A |
| Naval Service | N/A | N/A | 1 | 6 |
The reasons for these appointments remaining unfilled are:
Recent retirements that will be filled in due course.
A significant number of the unfilled appointments are Corps Appointments that require specialist qualifications such as Engineer and Medical Appointments.
The imminent publication of the new Administrative Instruction R5. This Administrative Instruction has been developed to support the objectives of the White Paper on Defence and the recommendations of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan Board. The new Administrative Instruction has been agreed with RDFRA.
The procedure for RDF Officers applying for appointments is outlined in the current Administrative Instruction R5/R6 (RDF Officers, NCOs and Privates Assignment Procedures).
The military authorities have informed me that all RDF Officers were made aware of the assignment procedure and that each Officer was responsible for deciding which appointment, if any, they would apply for.
Officers who did not apply for a specific appointment were assigned to appointments within the establishment, consistent with the terms of the Administrative Instruction. The Administrative Instruction did not provide for interviewing of RDF Officers who did not apply for an appointment.
The military authorities are not aware of any RDF Officers not wishing to continue in service due to their assigned appointment.
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