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

That is why we set up the office, specifically following the recommendation from the commission on the Defence Forces to establish an office of Reserve affairs. That was a recognition that over the years, the level of urgency and attention to this was not what it should have been. Early on, after I became Minister, I had a specific meeting on this issue. The office has been established and is developing a regeneration plan. I want action parallel with that plan also. Given that people have applied and want to participate, there is an onus to ensure that we can facilitate recruitment more effectively and more quickly than had been the case in the past. The establishment of the office is an important structural change that was not there before. That capacity was not there before. The office is developing a regeneration plan. They are also directing their attention to address any hurdles that limit the enlistment process in the Reserve, including examining upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages. We are also working on enabling members of the Reserve to deploy on a voluntary basis, working with employers and unions in that respect. The Civil Service has separate circulars that can facilitate participation.

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