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Is it possible to join RDF/PDF if your a member of a political party?

  • 14-01-2007 3:48pm
    #1
    DarkMuse
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭


    I was just wondering if you could, I read somewhere when you join the PDF you have to say you won't join a party but what if your already a member?


Comments

  • #2
    Hagar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,793 ✭✭✭✭Hagar


    AFAIK you may neither join nor subscribe to any political parties. Which I imagine means you must leave the party.

    Have a look a the Defence Force Acts in the Useful Links sticky above and input the word "political" as a search term.

    The relevent pages are in Chapter 1 pages 67,74,75.


  • #3
    Steyr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,266 ✭✭✭Steyr


    Ya your not allowed to join a party, especially those "subversive" ones.


  • #4
    testicle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,429 ✭✭✭testicle


    I see all the barrack room lawyers are out in force, and they're all wrong as usual.

    Short Answer, PDF no, RDF yes.

    PDF oath on enlistment : I, ................, do solemnly swear (or declare) that I will be faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution and that while I am a member of the Defence Forces I will obey all lawful orders issued to me by my superior officers and that while I am a member of the Permanent Defence Force I will not join or be a member of or subscribe to any political organisation or society or any secret society whatsoever and that, if I become a member of the Reserve Defence Force, I will not, while I am a member of the Reserve Defence Force, join or be a member of or subscribe to any secret society whatsoever.

    RDF oath on enlistment : I, ................, do solemnly swear (or declare) that I will be faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution and that while I am a member of the Reserve Defence Force I will obey all lawful orders issued to me by my superior officers and will not join or be a member of or subscribe to an secret society whatsoever.

    PDF oath on commissioning : I, ................, do solemnly swear (or declare) that I will be faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution and that while I am an officer of the Permanent Defence Force I will obey all lawful orders issued to me by my superior officers and will not join or be a member of or subscribe to any political organisation or society or any secret society whatsoever.

    RDF oath on commissioning : I, ................, do solemnly swear (or declare) that I will be faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution and that while I am an officer of the Reserve Defence Force I will obey all lawful orders issued to me by my superior officers and will not join or be a member of or subscribe to any secret society whatsoever.


  • #5
    Hagar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,793 ✭✭✭✭Hagar


    You have a point. However in my own defence your Honour, I reponded to the question posed by the OP in the thread which is not quite the same as the thread title.*

    Just as an aside, is the Minister for Defence as CIC of the DF technically a "member" of the DF?
    Is there a contradiction there somewhere as he is obviously a member of a Political Party?


    * Now that's a real Barrackroom Lawyer at work.:)


  • #6
    testicle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,429 ✭✭✭testicle


    :)

    CIC is the President, not the Minister, and no, is not technically, or otherwise a member of the Defence Forces.


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  • #7
    DarkMuse
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭DarkMuse


    oh and I know its offtopic but what is AFAIK? I seem to be seeing it everywhere:rolleyes:


  • #8
    Hagar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,793 ✭✭✭✭Hagar


    As far as I know it means as far as I know.:D


  • #9
    Jo King
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,139 ✭✭✭Jo King


    As a matter of interest the late Charlie Haughey resigned his commission in the FCA on his election to the Dail in 1957. Michael Bell who was a Labour TD for Louth also resigned his commission in the FCA on election to the Dail in the 1980's.


  • #10
    DarkMuse
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭DarkMuse


    Hagar wrote:
    As far as I know it means as far as I know.:D

    Ah, and here was me thinking it was some complicated "in" military term:p


  • #11
    Ruen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭Ruen


    AFAIK The President is the Supreme Commander of the DF and the President is a-political so either way membership of a political party isnt an issue for her.


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  • #12
    cushtac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭cushtac


    Ruen wrote:
    AFAIK The President is the Supreme Commander of the DF and the President is a-political so either way membership of a political party isnt an issue for her.

    It's not an issue because she's not a member of the Defence Forces.


  • #13
    Ruen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭Ruen


    Thanks for that cushtac:rolleyes:


  • #14
    cushtac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭cushtac


    You're welcome :rolleyes:

    BTW the Presidency is not apolitical, it is a very political role & most if not all of Ireland's presidents have belonged to one of the major political parties. There's also nothing in the Constitution that bars the President from being a member of a political party.


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