Jobs centre funded by Fás offers careers in British army

A FÁS-funded Limerick jobs centre has been ordered to stop promoting careers in the British army, a criminal offence under the Defence Act of 1954.

The act states that anyone attempting “to induce, procure or persuade any person in the state to accept or agree to accept any commission or engagement in any military, naval or air force maintained by the government of any other state” is liable to a large fine and/or six months in prison.

The controversy erupted when jobseekers on the north-side of the city received letters alerting them to positions available in “the Royal Irish Army”.