DIVERSIFYING IRISH DEFENCE FORCES!
Friday, September 14, 2007 at 10:13AM So, who agrees that the Irish Defence Forces should review recruitment procedures to ensure more cultures and ethnic minorities sign up?
Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea has asked Chief of Staff, Major-General Dermot Earley, to conduct the study to identify and implement the changes required to attract members of non-Irish descent.
Mr O’Dea said he believes the Defence Forces should, over time, reflect changes in society generally.
“The benefits of cultural and ethnic diversity will enhance the overall capabilities of the Defence Forces,” he said.
How? Have these minorities skills missing from Irish people? Surely the Irish Defence Forces should consist of the BEST candidates for the jobs and this whole liberal notion that the State must interfere to ensure that there are JUST the right number of Poles, Latvians and Nigerians in the Irish Defence Forces is risible nonsense.
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Reader Comments (57)
Must one have an Irish passport to apply, or would a British passport holder be accepted?
ILuvNI
It appears so. From the Irish Army's website.
In order to be eligible to apply for enlistment for general service reruitment within the Irish Defence Forces, citizens of states other than EU member states are required to have a minimum of five years legal and unbroken residency in Ireland.
Non nationals may also be required to pass a competency test in the Englich language.
Non nationals must also meet residency and work permit conditions as laid down by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment.
I don't know, iluvni. I presume if you could establish you were from Ireland you would be able to join.
Sorry, Kloot. You obviously did a bit more research than me there! Nevertheless, if you are from the 6 Counties but hold a British passport would you be considered a "non-national"?
Reg,
Its a quite day in work :)
In the scenario you've outlined, I reckon you would be considered a non national alright.
>>if you are from the 6 Counties but hold a British passport would you be considered a "non-national"?<<
I think holding a specific passport is only (sufficient but not necessary) evidence of nationality but does not in itself establish it. I think if Northerners are domiciled in the Republic they are considered Irish no matter how they feel or whether they have An Pas or not,
I may be wrong here tho.
"I think holding a specific passport is only (sufficient but not necessary) evidence of nationality but does not in itself establish it."
Noel, that's what I was thinking. I'm not sure though.
I don't know how big a part domicile plays in this regard.
"a competency test in the Englich language.
Well I guess they've failed!
On a more serious note why is it that almost no one ever examines the cliche of organisations benefiting from diversity? There doesn't seem to much evidence to suppost the idea.
Bolding off.
I was recently asked to complete a 'diversity' document full of loaded questions such as was I a homosexual or a lesbian, and other rubbish on similar themes including the truly divisive list of ethnic backgrounds which included White Irish (as opposed to Black Irish), Scots Welsh etc. etc., but strangely not English
I wrote across the whole page that I consistently refused to either complete or sign any such document which, if taken together with all the other so-called 'diversity' documents, is pushing this country down a one way slope towards chaos!
At the age of sixty-seven, I am doing a job because I am a good engineer, not because I am white, black orange or any colour or shade inbetween!
>>Non nationals may also be required to pass a competency test in the Englich language.<<
Well, if it were an oral test, I suppose that would exclude most people from Northern Ireland.
Noel: It isn't THAT type of an oral test.
Mike
Why didn't you just tell them you were a Lesbian, just to see if they would query your answer ;)
Mahons
Are you saying people from Northern Ireland are no good at Oral. And pray tell how did you discover that ?
Colm: How many U.S. Senators visit Belfast's airport?
"Colm: How many U.S. Senators visit Belfast's airport?"
Or New Yorkers?
Mahons
Well no matter how many were to be found in the airport loos I am sure they could explain it all as a 'fact finding' mission.
Daphne
Are you casting aspersions on 'Superdaddy's sexuality !. Shame on you!
Daphne: Touche.
Colm: Indeed. The alternate surge.
I wonder if you claimed to be a lesbian trapped in a mans body would you get bonus points with the equality industry.
Well Henry, the Lesbian would get the extra points. The nasty man who swallowed her would have points deducted .
"lesbian trapped in a mans body"
We call those chicks with d***s.
Mahons' manliness is set in cement since his announcement.
Daphne
Oscar Wilde managed to produce a few sprogs!
So did Senator Craig.
And Im sure if he visited a Belfast "bathroom" he'd soon be flushed with success.
With a name like Wilde, anythings possible.
He probably be aiming for a chain reaction.
You guys seem to know a lot about unseemly bathroom behaviour.
A poem to Oscar Wilde by Brendan Behan
Sweet is the way of the sinner,
Sad, death without God's praise.
My life on you, Oscar boy,
You tried to have it both ways!
We're all closet foot tappers Daphne
Or pipe cleaners
Your a quite the classicist Noel.
(is that a word?)
or plungers
Your a quite the classicist Noel.
In some circles that could be a euphamism
Daphne, what you see is what you get:
http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/28/971628.jpg
http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/77/576377.jpg
Is that what you clook like Noel. Not Daphne's type. She likes Marlboro man.
How about you, Colm? There's a million mugshots on Google Images to choose from.
Alright Noel, if you insist..
http://pointfiveblog.com/wp/wp-content/200608/vacation/hunk1.jpg
You're pretty cute Noel!
I have many types Colm, the most important qualities a man must have is intelligence and a sense of humour in order to be attractive past first glance. Looks rate a distant third in the real world.
There's hope for me yet Daphne.
You must get a lot of toe taps Colm - yummy! :-D
My most honest description would be Selma Hayek's body and height with an older version of Lindsey Lohans face, with dark hair, blue eyes and a few freckles across my nose.
That sounds fine Daphne
In all honesty I can't think of a celebrity I look like, if I rack my brains the nearest I can come up with is Mathew Broderick and that's just a vague similarity.
See, that's pretty good Colm. I'm having the same problem. After I wrote that, I thought Courtney Cox for the face would be better. Maybe we're just very unique and our types don't photograph well which is why there are no public figures to give as good examples.
Or maybe we aren't all that concerned with finding mirror images to reinforce our already high self esteem! :-)
That's true Daphne, why would we want to lower ourselves by trying to find celebrities to compare ourselves with.
Cheers to your fine self Colm!
Do you ever wonder when you're typing away here expressing yourself or having a chat, how many people are doing the voyeur thing on the threads? Always watching - never participating.
Here's a piece of excellence for you Colm. A gift.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQdmrFrM5lE
Daphne
Thanks for the gift. I enjoyed the track I've heard of Jill Scott but not really familiar with her music. I can't understand why someone would religously read a blog like this one and not comment. Surely the urge to express an opinion is with everyone.
Well we regulars are a pretty vocal bunch, but with David's traffic so high, there must be quite a few who remain mute for some reason. Maybe they're extremely shy. Or afraid they'll get beat up on, we've got some pretty fierce tongues on this site that take no mercy on the new people. Initiation by fire for new phobes seems to be the rule.
I'm glad you enjoyed Jill, she's one of my favorites.
Daphne
How can anyone be shy when it's all 'virtual'. It's not as if anyone is facing anyone else. The whole point about the cybersphere is that it enables people to be what they may not be able to be in person. I for one an prepared to admit I am more confident on here than I am in real life. It's easy.
Colm, one of the things on the net that I miss is seeing peoples' facial expressions, hearing their laughter, smiles of appreciation or snorts of derision. I like talking to ya'll here, but it can be hard to judge conversations until you've been doing this awhile with the same group of people. You need to be intuitive and empathetic to do this with some skill. Plus a large vocabulary, quick mental response and some decent typing/spelling skills are needed, at least on ATW. I don't think it's easy for everyone.
Colm, I bet you do just fine in real life if you're letting even just a little of your spectacular personality come through. You are an absolute gem.