Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the absolute necessity of a strong Reserve force. There were 90 recruited in 2022. I am nine months in office and I made it clear earlier in the year that I was not happy with the rate of progress. When we consider that 1,000 had applied in the earlier recruitment process, the process of medical testing and so on was far too slow. I asked and instructed that this would change. Where we get such a significant interest, I have said to the military authorities there is a necessity to convert that into a higher number of recruits. I have met with the representative association for the Reserve. I think there is very significant potential there, as the Deputy has said, as a pipeline for further recruits, but also as a support in terms of new disciplines and areas that emerge in connection with new technologies and so forth. We should always be out there looking to use expertise in society. The RDF is a very effective way of harnessing such expertise for the benefit of our defence commitments.

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