Mr. Eugene Gargan:

That is not something we are aware of as being a major issue or hygiene factor for joining the Reserve. The Department of Social Protection considers a lot of the income that is paid to reservists as training. I do not think there is an interference in that regard, but I could be wrong. I need to check that out. However, in my capacity as a serving officer in the Reserve with overall responsibility for recruitment in my unit, the recruitment liaison officers, RLOs, under my command have not brought to my attention that this is a question or a problem for people who approach. I do not think it is something has arisen anywhere else. I cannot say definitively but I am not aware of it.