Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I apologise to Deputy Deenihan as I missed an important element of his previous question relating to the involvement of the Reserve Defence Force in instances such as the snow and ice. We need to learn from that for the future because the Permanent Defence Force personnel involved did an outstanding job and the public appreciated it, particularly in the areas where it was really needed. It seems a role for the Reserve Defence Force can be examined. The Civil Defence was very much to the fore, particularly during the flooding.

The point made by Deputy O'Shea on it being socially desirable is very important and I fully agree with him on it. Unfortunately, there are economic constraints and sometimes no matter how much one wants to avoid it one is forced to pick priorities and deal with them. It is something I want to examine in the context of where we see the future of the Reserve Defence Force.

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