Results 5,161-5,180 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: I ask the Minister to allow Deputy Mac Lochlainn ask his questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: Just one more question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: We might even revisit some of the training camps, as we did last Thursday in the Glen of Imaal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: I should declare an interest to the Minister, as I have done a lot of that in the past.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: I have one or two questions on this subject. Was a study undertaken on the reason so few of the 4,554 personnel actually got involved in training? What was the reason they did not actually train? In addition, while I stand to be corrected, was payment of the gratuity in the past dependent on taking part in paid training as well? In other words, was it the case that one did not actually...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: I asked the reason so few of the effective----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: There always was a non-effective strength as well within the RDF. What was that non-effective strength before the reorganisation? Does the Minister have such figures to hand? Will this non-effective element still exist somewhere or will virtually all of the force be effective?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: I welcome that and believe the single force concept is the option to take because the RDF must be far more professional. This leads to the question of members of the RDF eventually serving overseas, which has been spoken about for a long time. In a situation in which both groups were being trained together and the RDF was to reach the same level of competence and professionalism as the PDF,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister. I have one or two more questions if he does not mind. I have a special interest in this area. Could he give an indication of the level of recruitment he envisages for the Reserve Defence Force in the near future?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: The Minister referred to conversion training in his statement. Could he outline what that means?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: The role and use of the RDF has been mentioned by a number of speakers, including the Minister. In the past one of the criticisms has been that it was not used for anything - that it trained but never did anything. Are there plans for how it might be effectively used in any role?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: As a committee we visited the emergency preparation room in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We were highly impressed with what we saw. As the Minister outlined, there is an opportunity for the reserve to get involved there. If members have no other comments or questions I will thank the Minister for his attendance today. The exchange has been enlightening and helpful...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: I welcome the representatives of the RDFRA. I draw the witnesses’ attention to the rules of privilege. You are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are about to give to the committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to do so, you are entitled thereafter only to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: We would be interested in engaging with the association if it has other suggestions at a not-too-far-away date.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: Who wants to take those questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: Has anybody else got a question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: This is how it was in the past. What will the requirements be now with regard to seven or 14 days training? I know the gratuity is gone, but will people still have to turn up for these training sessions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: What will be the role of the Naval Service Reserve after the reorganisation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: The Civil Defence costs less than the reserve but the numbers are on a par. Why is this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

David Stanton: I note from the review that the RDF cannot perform armed duties in aid to the civil power. Will the witnesses please comment? Is there a restriction on performing armed duties in aid to the civil power? They appear to have been discontinued.