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

Deputy Burke is correct. When you look at the number of people who apply to join the Defence Forces and the number who fall out of that recruitment process, you do have to ask why. Those questions are being asked and we will see recommendations on HR management and recruitment from the commission in the weeks ahead. There is an appetite to join the Defence Forces. Many people who want to join, for whatever reason, then decide that they cannot or will not. We need to try to address that.

I was very pleased to attend a commissioning ceremony for 29 new Reserve Defence Force officers in the past week. I will state very clearly to the House that I want to prioritise the future of the Reserve. That is why we have changed defence legislation to remove a barrier on RDF members serving overseas. That was done for two reasons: to give a signal that we want to expand the role of the Reserve and that we want more people to join. I certainly hope we will make significant progress over the next year or so in increasing the numbers in the Reserve because it has a very important role to play in tandem with the Permanent Defence Force.

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