Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1947

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Non-commissioned ranks and ratings in the Defence Forces.

5.—(1) The ranks set out in the second column of the Table hereto shall be the grades of non-commissioned military rank in the Defence Forces, and any grade of non-commissioned military rank set out in the said second column before any other grade of non-commissioned military rank shall be senior to such other grade.

(2) The rank set out in the third column of the Table hereto shall be the grade of non-commissioned naval rank in the Defence Forces, and shall be senior to any grade of non-commissioned naval rating set out in the fourth column of the said Table.

(3) The ratings set out in the fourth column of the Table hereto shall be the grades of non-commissioned naval rating in the Defence Forces, and any grade of non-commissioned naval rating set out in the said fourth column before any other grade of non-commissioned naval rating shall be senior to such other grade.

(4) (a) For the purposes of any enactment to which this subsection applies or any scheme made (whether before or after the passing of this Act) under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Acts, 1932 and 1938,—

(i) the naval rank of Warrant Officer shall be deemed to be a rank corresponding to the military rank of Sergeant-Major, and references in any such enactment or scheme to the rank of Sergeant-Major shall be construed as including references to the rank of Warrant Officer;

(ii) every naval rating mentioned in the fourth column of the Table hereto shall be deemed to be a rank corresponding to the military rank respectively mentioned opposite thereto in the second column of the said Table, and references in any such enactment or scheme to a grade of non-commissioned military rank corresponding to a grade of non-. commissioned naval rating shall be construed as including references to such grade of non-commissioned naval rating.

(b) This subsection applies to any enactment, whether passed before or after this Act, including this Act, which is a Saorstát Éireann statute or an Act of the Oireachtas.

(5) (a) The Minister may by regulations direct that in relation to any Corps or Service or part of a Corps or Service the holder of non-commissioned military rank therein shall, in lieu of holding a rank specified in the second column of the Table hereto, hold such other equivalent rank as may be specified in such regulations, and in such case references in any enactment to which this subsection applies or in any scheme made (whether before or after the passing of this Act) under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Acts, 1932 and 1938, to a rank specified in the said second column shall as respects such Corps or Service or part of such Corps or Service be construed as references to the equivalent rank specified in such regulations.

(b) This subsection applies to any enactment, whether passed before or after this Act, including this Act, which is a Saorstát Éireann statute or an Act of the Oireachtas.

(6) The Minister may by regulations divide any grade of naval rating mentioned in the fourth column of the Table hereto into such and so many classes as he thinks fit and may assign to each such class such distinctive description as he thinks proper.

(7) The Minister may direct that a member of the Defence Forces who holds (whether by virtue of his appointment thereto or a direction given under subsection (8) of this section) the military rank of Sergeant-Major shall, in lieu of that military rank, hold the naval rank of Warrant Officer, and any such direction shall have effect according to the tenor thereof.

(8) The Minister may direct that any member of the Defence Forces who holds (whether by virtue of his appointment thereto or a direction given under subsection (7) of this section) the naval rank of Warrant Officer shall, in lieu of that naval rank, hold the military rank of Sergeant-Major, and any such direction shall have effect according to the tenor thereof.

(9) The Minister may direct that any member of the Defence Forces who holds (whether by virtue of his enlistment or appointment thereto or a direction given under subsection (10) of this section) a non-commissioned military rank (other than that of Sergeant-Major) set out in the second column of the Table hereto shall, in lieu of that non-commissioned military rank, hold the grade of non-commissioned naval rating set out in the fourth column of the said Table opposite the mention of such non-commissioned military rank, and any such direction shall have effect according to the tenor thereof.

(10) The Minister may direct that any member of the Defence Forces who holds (whether by virtue of his enlistment or appointment thereto or a direction given under subsection (9) of this section) a grade of non-commissioned naval rating set out in the fourth column of the Table hereto shall, in lieu of that grade of non-commissioned naval rating, hold the non-commissioned military rank set out in the second column of the said Table opposite the mention of such non-commissioned naval rating, and any such direction shall have effect according to the tenor thereof.

TABLE OF NON-COMMISSIONED RANKS AND RATINGS.