Defence Forces
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-16
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Aindrias Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West

As the Minister has said, the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended the creation of the new rank of lance corporal in the Army and the Air Corps. It also recommended that consideration be given to whether there is a need for an equivalent rank in the Naval Service. The qualification course for this rank should be of short duration and conducted in the home unit. The commission believes the creation of the rank of lance corporal would allow for earlier rank progression for enlisted personnel with leadership potential and that it would also offer unit commanders and senior NCOs the opportunity to assess the leadership ability of junior personnel before further advancement. The rank would also be useful for specialist trades as it could allow privates to advance and carry out supervisory functions without needing to complete the potential NCO course. I understand that work is being done in the background, as the Minister has outlined. Is there a projected timeline for this to be brought to fruition and for the rank of lance corporal to be introduced?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-16