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

I believe the Deputy's time with the FCA stood him in good stead and prepared him well for his parliamentary and ministerial career, so that speaks volume about the importance of the RDF. In a serious vein, since I became Minister, I have been very determined to drive this on because it is not acceptable that we do not have adequacy and sufficiency in terms of the Reserve Defence Force. We have made good progress but we need to drive on. There were a lot of bureaucratic delays and stuff that was unnecessary. The office we have now created for the regeneration of the Reserve Defence Force will give impetus and capacity to drive this on. We will keep the weather vane on it.

The Deputy made a very good point about employment. The Department of Finance Circular 51/1979 relating to leave for attendance at training with the Reserve Defence Force outlines the provisions for leave arranged by civil servants who attend Reserve Defence Force training. We need to more work with employers to facilitate members of the Reserve Defence Force to carry out RDF activities because it is enhancing human capital for the entire nation and everybody benefits. I can give the Deputy details of that circular.

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