Written answers
Wednesday, 31 March 2021
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Reserve
Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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549. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when a revised Defence Forces regulation review 5 for the Reserve Defence Forces will issue, having regard to commitments made in November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16623/21]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been actively involved with the Military Authorities in the process of reviewing Defence Force Regulation (DFR) R5. Completion of amendments to DFR R5 and DFR S7 (matters relating to RDFRA) are interlinked. These Regulations encompass a broad range of matters from Finance, Human Resources, promotions and training to effectiveness criteria. Amendments are complex and time consuming and have required extensive internal consultation.
In November 2020, I undertook to have a revised draft of DFR R5 circulated to key stakeholders, including RDFRA (the Representative Association for members of the RDF), by the end of 2020.
I understand that this commitment was met and I am further advised that consultations to finalise the draft, which have been ongoing throughout Q1 2021, are at an advanced stage, and expected to be concluded in the near future.
Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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550. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the criteria for promoting Defence Forces Reserve officers from the rank of lieutenant to captain who were commissioned on or after 1 October 2005; the number promoted each year since 2005 excluding fixed term promotions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/21]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The legislative provision regarding Officer promotions is set out in Part 4 section 45 of the Defence Act.
Defence Force Regulation R5 (New Series) is the governing Regulation for the Reserve Defence Force, and Paragraph 31 therein governs promotions within the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve.
Section 31(2) of the Regulation additionally provides that an Officer of the Reserve, commissioned on or before 1 October 2005, and having attained the rank of Lieutenant, may be promoted to the rank of Captain having served 15 years of service as an officer and having met certain criteria, as laid out in the Regulation.
While promotions of RDF Officers commissioned on or after 1 October 2005 have taken place at different ranks under the provisions of paragraph 31, I am advised that no promotions have taken place from the rank of Lieutenant to Captain, with the exception of the provisions outlined in Section 31(2).
A review of Defence Force Regulation R5 (New Series) is currently being finalised I understand that the Regulation will contain revised procedures, including assessment criteria, under which Lieutenant to Captain promotion competitions will be conducted going forward.
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