Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the deputation. I declare an interest to the extent that my son was a member of the Reserve Defence Forces and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I also know a number of members of the Reserve Defence Forces.

The witnesses referred to the restoration of pay to its previous level. I am an advocate of restoring much of it. Unfortunately, the economic climate in previous years did not lend itself to pay restoration. However, if pay is to be rolled back to previous levels through the Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road agreements, this must be done across the board. It is reasonable, therefore, for the Reserve Defence Forces to expect the same treatment as other public servants.

We must communicate with the Minister, departmental officials and other decision makers that representation is an essential part of military management. We require assurances that no unilateral decisions will be taken without proper consultation. That is probably the key message the joint committee must communicate.

Given the representations the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association, RDFRA, made at the previous meeting with the joint committee, which I was unable to attend, RDFRA appears to accept that it is getting traction and balanced consultation has taken place. Is that the case? Is the association being listened to?