Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Chairman. Without doubt, the RDF, over a long number of years, has given many vulnerable people from communities a start in life and offered them leadership. The same applies to the Naval Service Reserve. Commitments have been given to these structures in the White Paper. I return to my original point that the word "volunteers" is often thrown around. The people who join the Reserve volunteer their time. They receive a small payment for their training days.

I hope that under the single force concept, they will be given a meaningful role. I am not saying they did not have a meaningful in the past but I hope their role will change and they will do more training with members of the Permanent Defence Force. If anyone inside or outside the House has any ideas about how to attract people to join the Reserve Defence Force, I will be pleased to hear them.

Deputy Chambers spoke during Oral Questions recently about how long it takes for applicants to be accepted in the Reserve. I will meet the Chief of Staff and Secretary General of the Department next week to try to identify logjams that are causing these delays. People who apply to join the Reserve should be given every opportunity to do so because it provides great opportunities for men and women.

During my time as Minister of State in the Department of Defence in the previous Government and, more recently, in my new role, I have been contacted by numerous people asking me questions about joining the Defence Forces. I always advise them to join the Reserve Defence Force in order that they can get a flavour of Army life. They can then decide whether they wish to be a member of the Permanent Defence Force, whether as a private or officer. The Reserve Defence Force provides a great grounding for young people, male and female.