Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members for their contributions. The one common theme is that everyone contributing to this debate values our Defence Forces, their skill set, the quality of the training they have and the role they play both at home and abroad. I put on record the extraordinary contribution and service of the Defence Forces through the 16 months or so of the pandemic. They have been invaluable, be that with mandatory hotel quarantine, providing transportation, taking test samples to Germany, setting up vaccination centres or indeed helping to run such centres. I got my second vaccine this morning in Cork City Hall and the first person I met when I entered the building was a member of the Defence Forces. They are remarkably professional and really good at what they do. There are a number of matters that I, as Minister, must work on with respect to some of the challenges that have been raised by Deputies.

8 o’clock

As Deputy Berry said, let us lock in today's achievement, which is to make a very strong statement in law about the ambition that we have for the Reserve and its future.

Some have questioned whether there is a commitment to a Reserve at all. I hope this legislation is a reminder to people that not only do we want to maintain and protect the Reserve but that we want to grow the numbers in the Reserve significantly until it reaches a strength of more than 4,000. It is where we would like to be, despite the fact we are at just under 2,000 currently. This is sending a very clear signal that we would like to see the Reserve involved with more activity overseas as well as at home. We are removing the legal restriction that has been in place for decades that has prevented this.

There will be a series of recommendations relating to the Reserve, its future and its role with the Permanent Defence Force coming from the Commission on the Defence Forces in a few months. We have time to deal with some of the employment matters raised by Deputy Howlin and others. I will have a conversation with the Tánaiste on how best to address that matter.

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