Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will be very brief. I am not a member of the defence committee and nor am I suggesting I should be. As a member of three other committees, my burden is enough. My point is that I did not have the chance to debate the Bill in committee. I am interested, therefore, in the expert views not only of the Minister but of Deputies who were involved in that debate.

It struck me immediately when I read the amendments and the intention of the Minister that the issue of employment needs to be addressed. While I understand this is a matter for another Department and Minister, we really cannot divorce the two issues. I am interested to hear how this matter will be advanced. I know the Minister has a very deep and personal interest in supporting our Defence Forces. While we all have rightly praised the work of personnel over the years, we probably have not given them the underpinning in resources, including remuneration for the job they do, that is merited. I hope that issue will be resolved.

In regard to building a proper Reserve, particularly on the issue of the bespoke skill sets that are now needed, either on domestic duty here or, in particular, on foreign missions, is it envisaged that there would be a recruitment drive with a skills focus? How will the Minister allow people who may have demanding day jobs to take the time off to train and be acknowledged in the way all of us in this House would like?

I have two questions for the Minister on this group of amendments. First, how far is he in discussions with the Tánaiste on having a facility in place for automatic leave of absence to train for people who are interested in giving voluntary time as a reservist in our Defence Forces? Second, in regard to deployment overseas, what sort of support to employers would be given by the State, or is too early to set out exactly what is envisaged? In enacting this legislation, we are providing for something that really cannot be achieved until those other steps are taken.

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