Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am aware of the points made by Deputy O'Shea regarding concerns the reserve and its representatives have. I had a meeting with them and attended its annual general meeting in the Curragh some weeks back. These issues are ongoing and can be addressed over a period of time.

If I were to look back at the recommendations in the White Paper, produced almost ten years ago, and the plan that was implemented in 2005, it seems that all the key components have been acted on and at this point perhaps we need to look to the future of the reserve in the context of a new White Paper. It seems open to the interpretation that the plan that was implemented and agreed has not been as successful as one might have hoped. That is something we want to resolve. The position of the Reserve Defence Forces is important and one to which we are committed. We want to have the best possible outcomes in that regard.

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