Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to request that the Minister of State in the Department of Defence come to the House for a debate. I and other Senators would like to discuss several issues with him, one of which is the very low morale in the Reserve Defence Forces. A committee heard a presentation today and I am quite shocked and horrified at the treatment of our Reserve Defence Forces. The issues include not being paid on time, money being paid weeks later and there being no set date for payment. Some people depend on this money. One cannot tell a bank that a mortgage will be paid in a couple of weeks time when one is paid; one has to have set dates.

Several issues are affecting the Reserve Defence Forces and I would like the Minister to come to the House to debate them. Medals are another issue. Soldiers and their families from Jadotville in the Congo in 1961 should get a medal. I lobbied current and previous Ministers of State on the matter. A citation was given to the soldiers and their families recently, but they should have received individual citations with their names on it rather than a company one. The restoration of technical pay for cooks within the Army is a major issue in my area, Athlone, and I would like the Minister of State to come to the House for statements or a debate.