Defence Forces veterans wishing to re-enlist must submit online application

Defence Forces veterans wishing to re-enlist to help in the battle against Covid-19 will be asked to submit online applications from early next week.

The Irish military are critically short of some specialists and are particularly anxious to fill those vacancies by re-employing experienced veterans.

They will be paid and it is understood that if they are in receipt of a pension it will not be affected.

Defence sources say that when applications are made, which will most likely be through military.ie, they will be assessed by the Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, and his senior officers.

The chief of staff will then submit the name of candidates he wants to rejoin the Defence Forces to the minister with responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe, for his approval to re-hire them.

It is not yet clear if there will be an upper age limit. However, one source said that if somebody was fit and over 60 and their technical expertise was sorely needed then age was unlikely to be a barrier to re-enlistment.

There are many members of the Defence Forces who could have retired on full 31-year pensions and still be as young as 50.

This special recruitment drive will only be open to former enlisted personnel.

The Department of Defence is in discussions with PDForra, which represents enlisted personnel, to iron out the terms and conditions of their re-employment.

In particular the Defence Forces need marine engineers, logistics experts, aircraft technicians, firefighters and fitters.