07/04/1938:

DEFENCE FORCES - EXERCISE OF EFFECTIVE COMMAND BY MINISTER FOR DEFENCE

To the Minister for Defence.

1. The Government have had under consideration the provisions of Section 3 (1) of the Defence Forces Act, 1937 , and hereby authorise the Minister for Defence to exercise effective command over the Defence Forces and all executive and administrative powers in relation to the said Forces.

2. The authority conferred by the preceding paragraph shall include authority to act in the following matters:—

(a) Appointments other than those reserved to the President.

(b) Distribution of the Defence Forces.

(c) Inspection of the Defence Forces.

(d) Discharge of non-commissioned personnel.

(e) Delegation of command from the Minister.

(f) Issue of Army Orders to implement the Command.

3. The Army Orders mentioned above shall be stated to be issued "by direction of the Minister for Defence" and shall be authenticated by the signature of a military member of the Council of Defence.

(Signed) ÉAMON DE VALÉRA,

Taoiseach.

7adh Aibrean, 1938.