Dáil debates
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Adjournment Debate
Reserve Defence Force.
8:00 pm
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter on the Adjournment. We are out and about among the people at the moment and a half dozen young people approached me because they are very upset that their time with the Reserve Defence Force has been terminated. They believe that up to 1,200 people are similarly affected. I did not know that there were 1,200 people in the Reserve Defence Force but they advise me that the figure could be that high. These young people were very much enjoying the experience of working with the Defence Forces, having been accepted as reservists.
I do not know the scale of the impact on the Reserve Defence Force of the Government moratorium that took effect on 27 March 2009. Nor do I know if the number affected is that large but it is a most unfortunate and socially undesirable cut. These are young people, many of whom are unemployed, who regard their time in the Reserve Defence Force as being productive, useful and enjoyable. For many it gives a purpose in life when they have little prospect of employment. They believe that they acquire valuable skills and socially the experience is very worthwhile.
The policy seems to be penny wise and pound foolish. Reservists in the Defence Forces are not paid a wage or salary. Only recently I heard the Minister for Defence boast of increased investment in the reserve with new equipment, clothing and opportunities for improved training. He even claimed that plans were well advanced to send members of the reserve overseas.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Ãine Brady is responding to this matter and I wish her every success and enjoyment in her role but I hope she is able to tell me what are the statistics in the reserve, how many of these young people are affected as the half dozen who approached me, and how much will be saved as a result of this decision. In the present climate, with the worst unemployment in the history of the State, I plead with the Minister for Defence to reverse his decision. These young people are not public service employees. The cost of their serving in the Reserve Defence Force is minimal and is money well spent. We should be creating opportunities for these young people and designing programmes to keep them occupied while awaiting employment opportunities. For some young people the Reserve Defence Force serves that purpose for very little investment. For those young people who do not proceed with a career in the Defence Forces it is still worthwhile to serve time with the reserve. I hope the Minister will change his mind.
Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Rabbitte for his kind good wishes. The Minister for Defence has asked me to convey his regrets to the Deputy for not being available to respond to this matter on the Adjournment in person tonight but he is grateful to the Deputy for giving him this opportunity to clarify the position regarding recruitment to the reserve.
The Reserve Defence Force has undergone significant transformation over recent years on foot of the roll-out of the Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan. The intention was to significantly improve Reserve Defence Force capabilities and enhance interoperability with the Permanent Defence Force. The reserve has been re-organised along lines similar to the Permanent Defence Force with a three brigade structure and a dedicated Naval Service Reserve. These revised organisational structures were brought into effect in October 2005. Further progress has been made in implementing the plan over recent years with increased investment in equipment, clothing and the training of the reserve.
All of the actions taken in implementing the Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan were identified as being important motivators to recruitment and retention of members of the reserve. In addition, significant increases to the rate of gratuities paid to members of the reserve were introduced to improve retention and the uptake of training. Notwithstanding these improvements, membership of the Defence Forces Reserve has declined in recent years.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the public service, with effect from 27 March 2009. As with the public service generally, the defence organisation is required to operate with reduced funding for 2009. In this context, all recruitment to the Defence Forces Reserve has been suspended for the present.
The current budgetary position requires difficult decisions. The Minister for Defence's primary goal is to consolidate the significant advances that have been made in developing the Defence Forces Reserve over recent years. He is anxious to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the current members of the reserve who have devoted significant amounts of their spare time to the organisation in recent years, are afforded the opportunity to maintain their skills. In this context, members of the reserve undertake both paid and unpaid training. In 2008 members of the reserve availed of approximately 81,000 paid man days. The reduced budgetary position this year will allow for approximately 60,000 paid man days.
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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We do not know how many people are involved.
Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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No.
Persons applying for membership of the Defence Forces Reserve are required to undergo security clearance and medical screening in advance of being accepted and attested as members. The military authorities conduct a familiarisation course for applicants pending their successfully satisfying medical requirements and while they are awaiting security clearance. The suspension of recruitment applies to these persons and not to persons who have already been attested as members of the Defence Forces Reserve. The Minister for Defence is aware that this is disappointing to those applicants who were hoping to join the reserve.
Membership of the Defence Forces Reserve has provided a character-forming opportunity for young persons throughout the country. The trend in recent years has shown a decline in membership of the reserve but the changed economic environment could halt this trend. Those who have participated have developed skills that are beneficial to the Defence Forces, their personal lives, their careers and broader society. It is important to ensure that the Defence Forces Reserve remain an attractive and challenging option when recruitment recommences. To this end, the suspension of recruitment is being closely monitored along with the efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the reserve within the more restrictive budgetary provision.