Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

They are also paid when they go on specific training courses and on specific security duties.

According to the figures available to me, the Reserve Defence Force personnel may be paid for up to a maximum of 42 days in a year for attending under the headings I outlined. There are, however, exceptions to this on sanction by the Department. In 2006, 25 reservists completed an average of 50 days, with a minimum of 43 and maximum of 64 days for which they were paid.

Service in the Reserve Defence Forces is voluntary, these people are interested and giving voluntarily of their time. I am unaware of any other country where such a gratuity or redundancy payment is paid to a member of the defence forces reserve. In deference to Deputy Costello raising the issue, a case for a payment on retirement or cessation of membership of the Reserve Defence Forces has never been made to me by any of the representative organisations. If they want to make a case, that is fine, I will listen. I do not want to raise expectations unnecessarily but I will hear those who want to make a case.

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