The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) is a representative body for
officers
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
of the
Defence Forces of
Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
. RACO was formally established in 1991 by
statute
A statute is a law or formal written enactment of a legislature. Statutes typically declare, command or prohibit something. Statutes are distinguished from court law and unwritten law (also known as common law) in that they are the expressed wil ...
under the Defence Amendment Act. Defence Forces Regulation S.6 is the
Statutory Instrument that gives effect to the Act and governs, ''inter alia'', the establishment, funding and operation of representative associations in the Defence Forces. The scope of representation of the Association, as set out in DFR S.6 includes the pay and conditions of its members.
[Defence Force Regulation S6]
Structure
The association has two full-time officials: a General Secretary, and a Deputy General Secretary.
The National Executive consists of seven officers; the President (who has a
casting vote
A casting vote is a vote that someone may exercise to resolve a tied vote in a deliberative body. A casting vote is typically by the presiding officer of a council, legislative body, committee, etc., and may only be exercised to break a deadlock ...
) and six others elected from different constituencies, namely
1 Brigade,
2 Brigade, the
Defence Forces Training Centre
The Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) (, ''ATÓÉ'') is the principal training centre for the Irish Army and other branches of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces, headquartered at the Curragh Camp that serves to provide educa ...
(
Curragh
The Curragh ( ; ) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the larges ...
),
Defence Forces Headquarters
Defense or defence may refer to:
Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups
* Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare
* Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks
* Defense indust ...
, the
Air Corps, the
Naval Service, and a representative of lieutenants (the latter replacing the representative of the former University Student Administrative Complement based in Galway). The six other members of the National Executive each chair an elected committee of five officers (chair included) representing their respective constituency.
Membership
Membership of the Association is voluntary and open to all serving officers, from 2nd Lieutenant and Naval Ensigns up to Colonel and Naval Captains. Almost 97% of all officers of the Permanent Defence Force are members of the Association.
See also
*
Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA)
*
Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association (RDFRA)
*
Ombudsman for the Defence Forces
The Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Ireland (ODF) is an independent office tasked with investigating complaints made by current and former members of the Irish Defence Forces.
The Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established as an independent ...
(ODF)
References
External links
RACO web site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raco
Military of the Republic of Ireland