Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 5 March 2019
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence
White Paper on Defence Update: Discussion
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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In the context of amendments required for the DFR R5, structure of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, and DFR S7, establishment of the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association, RDFRA, the regulations encompass a broad range of matters from finance to human resources to training matters to effectiveness criteria. Amendments of DFR S7 are linked to DFR R5. The former cannot be finalised with the latter being completed. Amendments are very complex and time-consuming and require extensive consultation. It is anticipated that the initial draft of the revised DFR R5 will be available within the coming months. The Office of the Attorney General has been snowed under due to Brexit, which has delayed all legislation. I am not stating that it has delayed this specifically but we depend totally on the staff of the Office of the Attorney General to assist us in drawing up legislation. This is very complex legislation. We have one opportunity to get it right and we want to ensure that we do so. I expect the revised DFR R5 will be available in the coming months.