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

I thank the Deputy for the question. The Government remains fully committed to the advancement of the Reserve Defence Force. The 2015 White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve.

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The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces equally serves to reinforce that commitment. The report contains many recommendations on the future role and structure of the RDF. The ultimate goal is the development of a reserve force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis with the Permanent Defence Force both on-island and overseas. On foot of the recent amendment to the Defence Act pertaining to the Reserve, for the first time, an RDF member has deployed overseas on a voluntary basis in support of the Permanent Defence Force.

A number of early actions were identified to progress prioritised recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces report. Two of the early actions directly relate to the Reserve, namely, the establishment of a dedicated Office of Reserve affairs and the commencement of RDF regeneration planning. The Office of Reserve Affairs is now up and running and the immediate focus is on the development of a regeneration plan.

In the interim and recognising the critical requirement to address significant and ongoing issues that can and will impact on Reserve revitalisation, the Office of Reserve Affairs has directed its attention to a number of areas, in particular around recruitment, and the removal of hurdles that limit the enlistment process in the Reserve. Upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages for the RDF will also be examined, including in the context of ongoing deliberations on these matters for the Permanent Defence Force. I understand that a food for thought paper prepared by the military authorities is currently with the general staff for consideration on the specific matter of mandatory retirement ages. I understand also that the Defence Forces are actively engaged on matters relating to the conduct of pre-enlistment medicals and fitness testing, which will facilitate the concerted, sustained and much-needed induction effort.

I am pleased to advise that a RDF recruitment campaign will recommence this month with an initial application window of two months. This welcome development, along with other initiatives under consideration, will assist in ensuring that the momentum behind my absolute commitment to the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained throughout 2023 and beyond.

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