Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am as anxious as the Deputy to make sure we bring as many participants into the Reserve Defence Forces as possible. We have some very fine people in the Reserve Defence Forces. If a person talks to me about joining the Army, I always encourage them to join the Reserve first and to see at first hand exactly what is involved in military and defence life. The person gets a first-hand experience of that.

I will come back to the Deputy once I have met with the recruitment section in the Defence Forces to see what the challenges are in the process. Everyone should be treated fairly and equally in Garda vetting. I am not sure if there is any hold up in Garda vetting for applications to the Reserve Defence Forces but I will check it out and revert to the Deputy.

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