Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I will deal shortly with the question on the fall-off in numbers joining the RDF. To answer Deputy Deenihan's initial point, I agree there is a vast reservoir of potential talent that should be utilised. This was the view of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Board. The Deputy will recall that the implementation plan for the RDF was to be delivered in two phases. Phase 1, which is all but complete, involves reorganisation and the provision of better training, clothing and equipment, and represents the start of the development of an integrated element in the RDF. We have now moved on to phase 2. We have specific recommendations from the implementation group that will be carried out. We are also awaiting comment from the military authorities on the recommendations with regard to the FLR.

However, my view and that of the implementation group, which I know we share with Deputy Deenihan, is that the FLR is a reservoir of talent and a valuable resource, although it has been allowed to fall into disuse since the mid-1980s. It only numbers about 375 at the moment because people are not being chased up, as the Deputy rightly pointed out. The FLR should be used and it has an important role to play in the integration programme we have planned for the RDF proper.

See this speech in context