John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests and thank them for their opening statement, particularly Mr. Richardson who delivered it. It is an area of work that the committee is only starting to focus. I, therefore, welcome this engagement, which it is timely given all the difficulties facing the Reserve Defence Forces. It is alarming to look at and listen to some of the language that is being used to describe where we are such as the reference to being at a crossroads with what will happen in the next couple of months. The Reserve could wither away to nothing and cease to exist and if that was to happen it would be a sad day for our Defence Forces and the excellent service that has been delivered over many years.

I want to ask a number of specific questions. A lot of focus is being put on the commission on the future of the Defence Forces and the work it is undertaking, which is a long time coming and which is welcome. We are being told we will get a copy of that report by the end of the year or early next year. What engagement has taken place with the commission other than the submission the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association has made to it? I also want to ask about the recruitment campaigns, specifically the 2019 campaign when there were two distinct recruitment campaigns for both the Army Reserve and the Naval Reserve, respectively. More than 2,600 applicants came forward at that stage.

Very few of them were progressed from the application stage and brought into the force. I listened to the general secretary when he said that some of those members are still on the books and the hope is to bring them forward. The concern, as stated previously, is around the delays in bringing those applicants forward and the two-year timeframe involved. How many of those people have lost interest? For how many of them has life moved on? In real terms, can we explicitly say how many of those 2,600 who have not been taken into the force still have an interest?

I share some of the concerns, particularly those around the White Paper. It is very alarming that none of the projects identified in the White Paper has been enacted. That is a cause of concern. I am hopeful for the commission and its work. The proof will be in the delivery of it and there is a key role for this committee and others in ensuring the best report possible comes from the commission and that its recommendations are fully implemented.

I have a number of other questions. In his opening statement, Mr. Richardson said, "The future Reserve needs to expand, not contract, its footprint across all counties of the State and then be resourced properly to recruit up to full strength." I remember proudly that the 21st Infantry Battalion had three locations in Wicklow, one in Arklow, another in Wicklow town and a third in Rockbrae House in Bray. The battalion also had a location in Dún Laoghaire. With the restructuring of the organisation, the 21st Infantry Battalion was amalgamated with the 20th Infantry Battalion to create the 62nd Infantry Battalion. The impact is that the Reserve Defence Force does not have a footprint in Wicklow. It is not as visible as it was. What do our guests think about that impact? Reference was made to that issue in their opening statement.

There are 1,513 members of the Reserve Defence Force. Do our guests have a breakdown of those members? I do not expect them to have a breakdown here but perhaps they could furnish the committee with a breakdown, county by county, as to where those numbers come from. Not having a footprint on the ground in each of the counties is having a negative impact.

I welcome the advancement of the Defence (Amendment) Bill, which is working its way through the Seanad. The Minister has committed to following that up, which is critical. Mr. Richardson, in his opening statement, made reference to the necessity for employment protection legislation. I agree that is critical and needs to follow on quickly from the passing of the Defence (Amendment) Bill. In his opening statement, Mr. Richardson specifically mentioned that a number of countries have put protections and legislation in place, and there is best practice out there. Perhaps he could point us towards a country in which legislation has been enacted and where it works.

My final question relates to funding. The situation is stark and concerning. The budget for the Reserve Defence Force has remained static since 2014 at €2.15 million per annum. That does not speak of a Government that takes pride, or sees value, in its Reserve, or sees the potential to expand its remit. What engagement has taken place with the Department and the Minister? Can our guests give us an ideal figure that they think should be acceptable in terms of the expansion of the Reserve? What would be an ideal figure to operate with?