Mr. Neil Richardson:

Our idea of an employer engagement programme was adopted by the Defence Forces and a Reserve Defence Force employer engagement working group was established. I am a member of that group, together with another member of the representative association. A Reserve Defence Force employer handbook will be published very shortly and provided to all major employers in Ireland. All reservists will be given a copy to present to their employer. It is a fantastic way of engaging with employers and showcasing the value of reservists.

The question then arises as to what the next step should be. International trends suggest that step should be employment protection legislation to support reservists in times of activation and utilisation, coupled with employer supports. To give an example, the Australian military will, instead of buying in a lawyer from a civilian firm, activate a reservist lawyer and pay him or her at the appropriate rank. The individual's employer is reimbursed to a certain degree for the loss of that staff member. This works out cheaper than hiring someone from the private sector to come in and do the job and there is a gain for the reservist, his or her employer and the military. It is something we will need to look at doing. The employer engagement booklet is very much a first step; deciding what comes next is where it gets tricky.