Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There was a consultative process by my officials with members of the Reserve Defence Force following the publication of the value for money report. The Permanent Defence Force, PDF, has been engaged with them also in the context of implementing the changes. I have met with members of the reserve previously. I am always happy to meet with members of the reserve and I had the opportunity when I made my presentation to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality committee, when I was delighted to see that there were members of the reserve in the gallery. I had a very brief conversation with them. I have no difficulty in meeting with them should they want to meet with me, but I am conscious that the value for money recommendations were objectively made by a group who independently examined the way the reserve was working, where there were problems and how those problems should be addressed, not just in the interests of the reserve but also in the public interest, at a time when we must use our resources wisely.

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