Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their submission. The concerns they have outlined paint a damning picture. Will they provide some details on what type of funding the RDFRA receives? What roles should professionally qualified Reserve Defence Force members assume in the Defence Forces? What particular skills and professional qualifications are they seeking to acquire?

When we discussed this issue previously I asked a question about the Defence Forces plan to raise awareness and attract more recruits from counties where they are experiencing difficulties recruiting members. I asked what plans they had in this regard and whether social media were being used to attract recruits. My constituency of Sligo-Leitrim includes parts of counties Cavan and Donegal. I am aware, therefore, of the work being done by the Reserve Defence Force. I support the Chairman's comments and applaud the work the Reserve Defence Force has done over many years.