Mr. Martin Cooney:

I wish to address the Deputy on a number of the points he raised. The value for money review identified the effective strength of the reserve at 95% in 2006 and 87% in 2011. The reserve is a volunteer organisation involving people who give up their own time. The vast majority of the work is unpaid and people receive no compensation for it. The report found 87% of a volunteer organisation is effective.

The gratuity is an example of an inflexible system placing restrictions on reservists. The review states in 2011 only 61% availed of paid man days. As my colleague stated, to get the gratuity one had to complete eight field days, eight training nights, an annual personal weapons test and at least one week full-time training. An individual in my unit had 17 field days, two weeks of full-time training, an annual personal weapons test and seven parade nights. He was one night short and did not get his gratuity. This shows inflexibility. When one totals up the hours they are far in excess of the minimum he was required to do. He had done 17 Sundays but because he was one night short he did not get his gratuity. He does not come within the figures. This is a flawed analysis of how we work.

I was based in Mullingar and my unit and my offices were closed in February 2012. No alternative location was provided for my platoon to train until September. I had personnel who had to satisfy certain training criteria to obtain their gratuity but the State had implemented a position whereby we could not attain it. In a civilian capacity I could consider judicial review because there is a case of legitimate expectation and the Government has put in place a system whereby we cannot obtain it. In employment terms it would be constructive dismissal. These are my comments on the findings of the value for money review.