Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. This is an important review. I fully appreciate there is a level of overlap now, but it is important we all contribute. Before I do that, I want to say that our Defence Forces personnel serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon are in all our hearts and minds today. We can be so proud of them. It is a very distressing time for Army families all over Ireland. I have spoken to some of them. Even if they do not have personnel there, they share that family concern and it is important we acknowledge that. They are doing us proud and we are proud of them.

I am very encouraged by what the witnesses have reported. We are going places and there are so many positives. Obviously there is a journey to go and Ms Sinnamon has stated that on numerous occasions. The improvement in pay is a crucial thing. It is part of the public pay agreement, but one does not get the right kind of people, the right kind of morale, the right kind of lifestyle and all that without the right level of pay, which is why pay is crucial to the gender issue and every issue. That all personnel will receive the military allowance is a very important breakthrough. We discussed this a lot in the Seanad, but it is also a major breakthrough that the Army representative bodies now have access to ICTU and will be at the table there in future discussions. I noticed it was said the officer healthcare is extended to all personnel, which is of course good. To the layperson looking in from the outside, it was kind of bizarre that there was a two-tier health system at any time. The witnesses might elaborate a little on what that means in practice for the well-being of an ordinary recruit. There is no such thing as a truly ordinary recruit, but my point is that it is somewhat bleak that there was ever a two-tier health system there. That it has been eliminated is major progress.

Gender diversity training is so crucial. Deputy Cronin went down that road with the group members, but I want to say a few things about it. There has been a very big and dark cloud over the Army. It is depressing for the best people in the Army, and most of them are the best people. I know a lot of Army personnel. That is why I made reference to Army personnel being distressed about the UNIFIL situation even if they do not have family out there. I meet Army personnel around the country and we have many in my home area. I gather anecdotally there was a culture there. It is documented so much and established, but there was a serious culture of gender inequality, gender discrimination or whatever the term is. I am interested in the diversity training. How deep, serious and real is that and how much of it is there? How good are the personnel involved there? Do the witnesses think it is hitting the spot, to use simplistic terminology? If they think it is, is there a process of evaluation of it with respect to outcomes and its effect on personnel? I am interested, and pleased too, to hear that fitness standards were reviewed to take account of gender equality, gender diversity and diversity within the Army. The group members might wish to elaborate a little on that. That should be a major step forward.

I have a particular interest in the Reserve simply because we have a good few people involved in it up my way. There is a long tradition of involvement going back to the FCA. There are currently quite a number of people from Cavan and Monaghan involved in the Reserve Defence Force. I am happy to know that not only in the regular Defence Forces but in the Reserve, the retirement age has been raised and the recruitment age has too. I am told there are three issues in the Reserve. With recruitment, there have been undue delays with medicals and the need to bring in private personnel there. The witnesses might comment on that. I am told that when people are in, there is not a good level of activity and training. Membership of the Reserve Defence Force is so important for citizenship, civic spirit and personal development on so many levels. It creates great people who then make a great input to their community. Some of them will go on to the Permanent Defence Force at some point in their lives or at least will have that option. The witnesses might comment on the area of recruitment, including the speed and efficacy of it and the need to ensure the process is not too bureaucratic, delayed and dispiriting with respect to people waiting around and waiting on medicals. When people are in, how good is the training? I am told anecdotally that people do not have a great experience when they are in there and that there is not enough activity. We need to know about that. The age changes will matter. I have raised retention, which is important.

Everything comes down to money in the end so it is good that in the budget we had an extra €100 million. Some new capital for equipment, which is all-important, has already been achieved. The question was raised with the group members previously, but I did not pick up on everything. I refer to getting beyond the 9,500 figure. There is a targeted figure of 2,000. Where are we at with that figure? How is it looking and what are the indications? I recall the point being made that there is a pick up.

How real and long-term is it? Does Ms Sinnamon see it leading into the future?

I thank the Chair and colleagues for this opportunity. I believe the report is very positive, unless I am missing something or being naive. There is a sense that there is a desire to do things, that things are happening and that there is real progress. That represents a great day and we can be so happy. All of us who are half right-thinking have great pride in our Defence Forces and what they do, and also great pride in their members as patriots. We should be so supportive of them, as we are. I would like to believe progress is being made in all the areas mentioned and that we are going further. How optimistic are our guests that this progress will continue?