Members of the Defence Forces on career breaks have been contacted to remind them of the conditions of their leave as part of an investigation into whether some had gone to Iraq to provide security and other services.
In November, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea asked the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Jim Sreenan, to investigate if some members on leave were in Iraq to take up lucrative contracts.
Media queries were put to Mr O'Dea at that time after rumours began circulating in military circles that some personnel had taken leave to go to Iraq.
An investigation has since been carried out and a report forwarded to the Minister. The report says the Defence Forces have "no knowledge of Defence Forces personnel on a career break in Iraq either working for other armed forces or otherwise".
The report says members on career breaks are only permitted to engage in activities for which the break was originally granted, namely domestic responsibilities, further education or travel abroad. It notes that they must not engage in any activity which brings the Defence Forces in disrepute.
If any personnel were engaged in such activity, their career break could be terminated immediately and they could be ordered to return to duty.
The report was submitted to the Minister by the office of Maj Gen Dermot Earley, the deputy chief of staff of the Defence Forces. Maj Gen Earley is responsible for support services.
Of 21 members of the Defence Forces on career breaks, 15 requested their period of leave, which ranges between six months to three years, for travel. All 21 have been written to and "reminded of the conditions under which the career break was granted".
Private citizens from all over the world are working in Iraq on lucrative contracts worth between $10,000-$15,000 a month, providing security for the British and US militaries or for international contractors.
The security guards are armed, usually with assault rifles, and are virtually immune to Iraqi law. Because they are not in any army, they are beyond court-martial. Many have been killed in gunfights and some have been kidnapped and executed.
They are employed by agencies contracted to provide security to major clients. Those agencies charge their clients about double what they pay in wages.
Up to 20,000 private security contractors now work in Iraq, making them the second largest foreign force there, after the US army.
