Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The VFM review was initiated by the previous Government. The Reserve Defence Force Representative Association, RDFRA, made very imaginative submissions to the review as to how the Reserve Defence Force could be deployed. We must find ways to deploy the patriotic spirit of the members of the Reserve that do not involve cutting their numbers. The Reserve is a huge resource to the Irish people. We should not allow the spending cuts process to take the heart out of that movement.

The Minister says the process is not completed. Before he signs off on it, I ask him to take one more look at the suggestions contained in the RDFRA document which was submitted in August 2010 and is still relevant.

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