Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 40: To ask the Minister for Defence if, in view of his statement to the Houses of the Oireachtas on 23 June 2009 that he had written to the Department of Finance, he has had a response to that correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34809/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, recruitment to the Permanent Defence Forces has been suspended.

As I have already stated in the House I have made a submission to my colleague the Minister for Finance regarding the implications of the measures for the Permanent Defence Force. My focus is on the ongoing operational capability of the Defence Forces. The question of limited exceptions to the application of the measures arise in this regard.

Since my submission approval has been received for the following:

- The appointment, by promotion of a successor to the Director of Military Prosecutions who retired in July 2009,

- The filling of the post of Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations),

- The filling of two Brigadier General posts (1 in the Southern Brigade and the other a consequence of the filling of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations)),

- The holding of a Cadetship Competition for both the Army and Naval Service in 2009 from which a total of 42 cadetships will be awarded, thirty (30) Army and twelve (12) Naval Service. The competition is in progress and it is planned that successful applicants will commence their cadet training before the end of the year,

- For 42 acting up posts for the overseas contingent in CHAD and 20 acting up posts for the forthcoming deployment to Kosovo.

Furthermore the promotions of ten Non commissioned Officers whose promotions had been in progress prior to the Moratorium are in the process of being finalised.

While I have not yet received a detailed response to my submission I can confirm that my objective is to achieve the implementation of the Government decision on savings measures on public service numbers in a manner that gives protection to the operational capacity of the Defence Forces while meeting our obligations to contribute to the necessary public service economies.

Discussions on the outstanding issues raised in my submission to the Minister for Finance are ongoing.

Question 41 answered with Question No. 8.