Mr. Neil Richardson:

We have often been criticised and asked if there is an interest in joining the reserve. The figures speak for themselves. In 2014 there were 4,800 applicants and a year later, 5,000. The number of female applicants nearly doubled in that time. They represent two 12-month recruitment periods during which the number of applications made online increased by 1,000, yet the recruitment figures for those who were successful went from 341 to approximately 60. It is not due to lack of interest but to the failure of the Defence Forces to facilitate recruitment.

We used only 55% of our pay budget last year, but what is never spoken about is that when a reservist hits 28 paid days in a year, rigorous control measures are in place to ensure exceeding that number of paid days per year is very difficult and sometimes impossible. If there is a glass ceiling placed on the number of paid days of which a reservist can avail each year, it is not surprising that our ability to utilise the pay budget for training and service is kept artificially low. There is a budget allocation, but it is not provided for us. That glass ceiling needs to be investigated.