Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Defence

Ministerial Responsibilities

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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563. To ask the Minister for Defence the precise duties at the Department of Defence which has been assigned to the Government Chief Whip; if it is his intention to seek to amend the Ministers and Secretaries Act to assign the Department of Defence to a Minister of State; if he accepts that any downgrading would be a cause of huge concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28976/14]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The precise duties delegated to the Minister of State at the Department of Defence under the Defence (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2014 are as follows:

- The power to direct that an officer who holds a particular commissioned army rank shall, in lieu of that commissioned army rank, hold the corresponding commissioned naval rank

- The power to arrange for the instruction of members of the Defence Forces outside the State or at non-Military institutions

- The power to employ (including employ by way of apprenticeship) civilians with the Defence Forces

- Powers in relation to the assignment of officers of Reserve Defence Force to a particular class of the Reserve Defence Force.

- Powers in relation to the promotion of officers

- Powers in relation to the placing of officers on half pay

- Powers in relation to the retirement of officers of the Permanent Defence Force

- Powers in relation to the relinquishment of commissions by officers of the Reserve Defence Forces

- Powers in relation to effective dates of appointments etc. of officers

- Powers in relation to extension of term of original enlistment of reservists enlisted under section 55 of the Defence Act 1954 (Direct enlistment in the Reserve Defence Force for service during a fixed period.)

- Powers in relation to the discharge of members of the Defence Forces (other than officers) by direction of Minister or authorised officer

- Powers in relation to the discharge of members (other than officers) from the Permanent Defence Force or Reserve Defence Force by purchase

- Powers in relation to the promotion of members of the Defence Forces to higher non-commissioned rank and reduction in rank of non-commissioned officers.

- Powers in relation to remuneration and superannuation of the holder of the office of Ombudsman, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform

- Matters relating to reports and recommendations made by the Ombudsman to the Minister

- Powers relating to the exclusion of cases otherwise compensated when fixing the amount of a pension, allowance or gratuity awarded to an officer or soldier under the Army Pensions Act.

- Powers in relation to the award of cadetships

- Powers in relation to transfers of cadets

- Powers in relation to the appointment of cadets discharged from the Permanent Defence Force as officers of the Reserve Defence Force

- Undertakings by cadets to refund the cost of training to the Minister

- Powers in relation to age limits, heights and physical standards for recruits.

- Powers in relation to leave- granting authorities

- Powers in relation to granting special leave with pay and allowances to a member of the Permanent Defence Force who has been selected to represent Ireland at approved international sporting events

- Powers in relation to the extension of sick leave by Minister

- Powers in relation to the extension of hospital treatment by Minister

- Powers in relation to the sanction by the Minister of periods of sick leave and/or treatment recommended by a medical board

- Powers in relation to the retention of PDF members who are medically classified as below Defence Forces medical standard but who are fit to carry out the duties to which they are assigned

- Powers in relation to promotion to higher acting Rank

- Powers in relation to the approval to fill vacancies by promotion

- Powers in relation to promotion of officers to the next higher rank

- Powers in relation to the approval of the administration of promotion boards

- Powers in relation to the secondment of an officer to a Department of State, local authority or civil undertaking

- Powers in relation to the extension of officers retirement ages/dates

- Powers in relation to permission for voluntary retirement of officer

- Powers in relation to the filling of vacancies in respect of appointments of officers with professional qualifications

- Powers in relation to the general qualifications required for appointments of officers with professional qualifications

- Powers in relation to the nomination of qualified candidates for appointment to be officers

- Powers in relation to undertakings by members of the Permanent Defence Force who are assigned to undergo a special course of training or instruction outside the Defence Forces

- Powers in relation to the provision of facilities and/or financial assistance to the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO), with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform

- Powers in relation to matters coming under the scope of representation which may be agreed between the Minister and RACO

- Powers in relation to the secondment of officers of the Permanent Defence Force to RACO with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform

- Powers in relation to the constitution and rules of the Association (RACO)

- Powers in relation to the provision of facilities and/or financial assistance to the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform

- Powers in relation to matters coming under the scope of representation of the Association (PDFORRA)

- Powers in relation to the secondment of non commissioned officers and privates of the Permanent Defence Force to PDFORRA with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform

- Powers in relation to the approval of the constitution and rules of the Association (PDFORRA)

I can confirm that there are no plans to amend the Ministers and Secretaries Act to assign the Department of Defence to a Minister of State. The delegation by Government of powers to the Minister of State under the Defence (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2014 in no way downgrades the role of the Minister for Defence. Every power or duty delegated to the Minister of State continues to be vested in me as Minister for Defence concurrently with the Minister of State and may be exercised or performed by either. As Minister for Defence I remain responsible to Dáil Éireann and as the member of the Government for the exercise and performance of the statutory powers and duties delegated.

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