Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Tánaiste noted, the Commission on the Defence Forces called for a detailed regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force with clear and specific timelines to be developed and published setting out how a reformed Reserve would be operationalised and funded. Could we get more information on that? What communications and campaigns is the Department looking at? The commission also said that the establishment of the RDF should include at a minimum an Air Force Reserve of 200 and a Navy Reserve of 400. It stated that the Army Reserve establishment should stand at 3,900 with a 50-50 split between combat-combat support and combat service support. How many are in the Reserve? Did the number increase during 2023? What timeframe does the Tánaiste envisage to achieve a Reserve on the level called for by the commission?

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