David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. Most of the questions I might have asked have been asked already, but I have a few left. I welcome the delegates. I wish to mention our troops abroad and recognise the work they are doing. Just by being present where they are, by observing and by reporting back, which is what they were sent to do, they may help to ensure the situation does not get completely out of hand. Observing and reporting back comprise a very important job in itself. It has got so difficult now.

I have read much of the material submitted to us. I want to comment on the Balance for Better Business review group. I established it when I was in the Department. I thank the officials for the work they did on it. It is great to hear it is going well and having an impact across the public sector.

Page 8 of the written submission refers to subsea awareness capability. Progress has been made in this regard. Could Ms Sinnamon say a little more about this? In my part of the country, there is considerable concern over subsea cables, their safety, their importance, and the question of how we protect them and ensure there are no explosives sitting on them that could be triggered remotely at any time. This is a very important issue, not just nationally but also internationally. I would like to know more about it, if Ms Sinnamon can tell us. If there are sensitive or confidential data that she cannot tell us about, that is understood.

I want to focus a little on the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration and Development Plan, published a while ago. There are a few questions arising from it. I was a member of the Reserve 27 or 28 years ago and before that. In 1997, how many members were in it? I do not know whether it was called the FCA or the Defence Force Reserve at the time. From my recollection, there were about 20,000 members. I could be wrong and stand to be corrected. In 2007, there were about 12,000. The number went down again and is now down to about 1,500, meaning the number is way down on what it once was. The report refers to RDF regional recruiting centres. What is the progress on these? How many of them will there be? Where will they be? Are they established? When does Ms Sinnamon expect them to be up and running? Does she agree that the Reserve or FCA acted as a recruitment mechanism for the PDF? People who joined the Reserve and liked it went straight into the PDF, where they had a long-term, professional career. I refer to the Naval Service, Army and Air Corps.

The Reserve has a huge role to play apart from the civic side, whereby people learn a lot about civics, the role of the State and so forth. What is meant by the reference in the development plan to a revitalised first-line reserve? What is the current position on this and the long-term plan for it? What are the numbers? What is the ambition in this regard?

It was stated that a regulatory review mechanism will be established for the Reserve. Ms Sinnamon might tell us a little more about that. When will it happen and what will it do?

I mentioned the recruiting centres and geography. This is important.

The Air Corps reserve is not be established until January 2028. Why will it take so long? It is three or four years away, although the report was published two years ago. Therefore, it is taking ages for it to happen.

There is talk of an employment engagement strategy for the Reserve. Very often, that has to do with reservists being deployed overseas, which many reservists would like to do. What is the ambition in this regard? Linked to this would be a specialist reserve, because reservists can bring in talent, expertise and specialisms that would not normally be in the Defence Forces. For as long as I have been in the Houses, people have been talking about an employment engagement strategy and reservists serving overseas. I believe one or two have served overseas in the past while, but progress seems to be very slow. There is also talk of a third-level strategy. When will it be produced? Where is it at? Who will produce it? I welcome the diversity strategy, which has been spoken about already. There is talk about Reserve management offices within each brigade. Are these being established? What will they do?

Overall, the ambition in the report is quite positive. My only criticism is that progress seems to be very slow. The whole thing is taking years. When I see 2028 put forward as a starting date, I must ask why it is taking so long. The committee would like to support the delegates in moving this on a lot faster without losing effectiveness. I have asked my main questions. The rest have been asked by others.