Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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170. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will grant an exception to the two-year rule for the submission of the case of recommendation (details supplied) similar to that afforded to the case of a person and the Jadotville medal award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30289/23]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will support the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30290/23]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if it is intended to amend the regulations in relation to awarding medals for gallantry to allow the awarding of medals to persons (details supplied) who died in action in 1999 at Post 6-42 in south Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30309/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, together.

While Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 sets out the qualifying criteria required to be awarded such Defence Forces Medals, the awarding of medals is a matter for the military authorities.

I am advised that in general, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as their length of service, for service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service both at home and overseas.

This Regulation also delineates the procedures for the awarding of those medals to members of the Defence Forces. DFR A9 sets out the various types of medal awards. ‘Medal award’ serves as an overarching category and then various subcategories are further set out under each ‘medal award’. These subcategories are: classes of award, bar to medal, investigation by military board, time limit for award, and administrative instructions. The details provided underneath each of these headings essentially lays out the protocols for the awarding of these medals.

In accordance with Defence Forces regulations, the award of medals for bravery is time-bound. They may not be awarded, in any case, unless a recommendation is made through the usual channels to the Chief of Staff, not later than two years in the case of the Military Medal for Gallantry, and not later than four years in the case of the Distinguished Service Medal, after the performance of the act in respect of which the recommendation is made. Such awards are made on the recommendation of a Military Board appointed by the Chief of Staff for the purpose of examining and reporting on every recommendation for an award.

With a view therefore to maintaining the credibility and integrity of the medals awarding system, the matter has been raised with the Chief of Staff, in the context of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group Jadotville. I understand that the matter remains under consideration by the Chief of Staff.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Military Management have advised me that the timeline for application decisions and appeals process are specific to each Defence Forces recruitment competition, including Cadetship competitions, of which the 2023 iteration was the most recent, which open in March of this year.

With regard to Cadetship competitions, a candidate must pass each stage of the selection procedure in order to progress onto the next stage, as set out in the governing Terms and Conditions for the competition. The following timelines apply to the 2023 Cadetship Competition specifically:

• Stage 1 - Competition Open - March 2023
• Stage 2 - Psychometric Test (online) – April 2023
• Stage 3 - Assessment Day (Fitness Test, Supervised Psychometric Test, Group assessment) – 3^rdto the 14^thof April 2023
• Stage 4 - Interview – 12^thto the 28^thJuly 2023
• Security Vetting
• Stage 5 – Medical Assessments – August 2023
• Attestation – October 2023

Where a candidate wishes to appeal, I am advised that the candidate can request feedback at the end of the Cadetship competition once all offers have been made and accepted, by emailing recruitment@defenceforces.ie. The candidate will receive a consolidated sheet outlining their scores during the various stages of the competition depending on the specific stage of the competition they made it to.

For the medical examination, a candidate who does not pass the examination owing to a medical condition that, in the opinion of the Examining Medical officer, is capable of being remedied by treatment, may be afforded the opportunity of having the condition rectified within one week of their examination. Such candidates will be required to submit medical evidence indicating that the condition has been remedied.

While it is not possible to give a precise date for the launch of the 2024 Cadetship competition, it is anticipated that will be in the first quarter of 2024.

As is the usual practice, details will be available on the Defence Forces website www.military.ie and advertised in the national media.