Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is absolutely being strung along. The RDF needs to look for a commitment that this is happening, especially since that commission report was signed off in 2021.

The space we are in at the moment as regards defence in Ireland has changed dramatically. My colleagues referenced the consultative forum. This concerns the public. When I say "public" I mean politicians because we are the front of the public. I have been a Senator since 2016 but I was never that interested in defence because we were living in peacetime Europe. However, we are all more acutely aware of it and there is more of an interest in the RDF. It is clearly cultivating that interest or it would not get 1,000 applicants. If a political party got 1,000 applicants, we would ask them to come in to us immediately. We would meet them tomorrow. It would kill us to say to them they will have to wait a year to meet us.

The RDF is doing its part of the job. It is creating a huge amount of interest. Other organisations would be envious hearing about that, but the RDF is obviously being significantly held up.

It is very disappointing. It is lovely to hear all the stories. I have friends who were in the RDF, and many of them have had RDF marriages. There is, I am sure, a large community there and huge value. In addition, with significant inward migration in Ireland, there is a role the witnesses can play in integration and in creating the feeling of being part of Ireland. There is a huge piece that can be brought in there.

How do the witnesses feel about the Department? Is it the political will they are not feeling? I am interested in that because, obviously, we are all very supportive of the Reserve but we need a steer. The witnesses have been here before. They have heard us all say this is great before. What do they want? What can we do that will make an impact? Did one of the witnesses say there is an app or something that people can log into as regards divvying out work? Does the Reserve have its own IT system and budget? Is it good? Could the witnesses look for more investment in it?