Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests and thank them for their opening statement. It was a comprehensive, fairly grim but accurate assessment of where we are. Honestly is always a good place to start.

I will raise three questions. The first is in light of the legislation that will probably be signed off by the President in the coming weeks to allow Reserve Defence Forces people deploy overseas. What are the witnesses' thoughts on when the first member of the Reserve will deploy overseas? I seek a ballpark answer. Second, there is an Army Reserve and a Naval Service Reserve but no Air Corps reserve. What are the witnesses' thoughts on establishing one? The Air Corps is under-strength at the moment. Most modern countries have an air force reserve. Why is Ireland so special that it does not have one? Is it something we should consider? The last question is on the employment protection legislation. I like the way the opening statement coupled potential employment protection legislation with an employer support package. That is a good twinning and a good way to go. I take the point we need to liaise with various stakeholders like IBEC and ISME before something as significant as this is introduced but surely in the public sector we should get our own house in order first. As a first incremental step, what are the witnesses' thoughts on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform putting out a circular to all Departments that where we have a full-time member of the public service who is also a reservist in the Defence Forces, if that person is deployed overseas or at home in operations, their employment is protected and their job will be available when the period of emergency or of deployment overseas ends?