Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach as ucht an ábhar seo a phiocadh amach. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach. Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Browne. Is deas é a bheith linn agus ar ndóigh, cuirfidh sé an méid seo in iúl don Tánaiste.

I thank the Minister of State for being here.I rise to address an issue facing our Reserve Defence Force, namely, recruitment and retention. As it stands, our Reserve Defence Force, RDF, faces significant challenges in both attracting new recruits and retaining existing members. With only 1,322 personnel in the Army Reserve, 89 in the Naval Service and 282 in First Line Reserve, it is clear we need urgent action to bolster our Reserve.

One of the biggest barriers to RDF recruitment is the time-consuming and cumbersome process that prospective recruits must go through. Recruits regularly face extensively long waits for medical and security clearances, discouraging many from considering a career in the Reserve or causing them to lose interest. Furthermore, the absence of recognition for RDF qualifications under QQI creates a hurdle for anyone wishing to enhance their skills and certification within the RDF. This is perhaps the most important point that I have made so far and I appeal to the Minister of State to have that looked at.

Regarding retention, current RDF members complain about the lack of training sessions and interesting activities, which leaves them feeling detached and under-appreciated. They are not active enough and there is not enough going on, in simple terms. Furthermore, the lack of real rewards exacerbates the difficulty of retaining skilled members of the Reserve. These concerns not only reduce morale within the RDF but also degrade the overall efficiency of our Reserve Defence Force.

Turning to answers, we must investigate innovative approaches to streamlining RDF recruitment processes and make them more appealing to potential recruits. This might include working with the private health sector - something is being done but more needs to be done - to conduct the medical exams to not have waiting lists; reducing waiting periods for getting in; and making it easier to enter the Reserve all the time. As I said, significant average wait times for medicals have been reported. I also advocate that we liaise more with employers to ensure that there is leave and a sensitivity and flexibility in the work programme to allow people to take part in this important patriotic work. The latest rise in age to 39 is a good start but I do not see why it could not be increased more, at least for a Reserve member.

We must also prioritise the creation of effective retention strategies within the RDF. This could include providing more opportunities for ongoing training sessions and fostering a sense of community through engaging activities and events. By investing in our RDF members' well-being and professional development, we can foster a greater sense of loyalty and commitment among our Reserve members and make membership more appealing to young people.

Further, we should look at targeted campaigns within schools and communities to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits, and make sure the benefits are there by creating more pathways for direct progression into the Defence Forces, emphasising the rewarding nature of Reserve service and trying to link into the apprenticeship programmes. We can inspire a new generation to join our ranks. It was very popular in my youth. Additionally, enhancing the recognition of RDF career courses under the QQI framework – this is important – would incentivise professional development and bolster retention.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. To finish, this is important patriotic work and important civic activity. It is also hugely important for the individual. The personal development of the young fellow or girl who joins the Reserve Defence Force goes way up.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising the important matter of the recruitment and retention of Reserve Defence Force members. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be here. The Tánaiste asked me to pass on his apologies to the House. On his behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter and thank Senator O’Reilly for his question.

I reiterate the Government’s commitment to the RDF. The immediate focus for the Tánaiste as Minister for Defence is on stabilising the numbers of personnel and facilitating capacity for further increases. An important enabler in this regard has been the extensive work undertaken to update the Defence Forces regulation, DFR R5, underpinning the Reserve, as well as the 2021 amendment to the Defence Act which provides for the deployment on a voluntary basis of RDF members both on-island and overseas in support of the Permanent Defence Force.The strategic objective for the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, is the development of a reserve force which can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis with the Permanent Defence Forces both in Ireland and overseas. This is an underlying message in the 2022 report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, CODF. This report contained a number of recommendations on the Reserve Defence Force. Two recommendations from that report, denoted as early actions, related to the establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs, ORA, and the development of a regeneration plan for the Reserve. Following the establishment of the ORA the director of ORA has advised that his immediate focus is in the development of a regeneration plan. In addition to focusing on general recruitment into the RDF, a recruitment drive for the RDF was launched in October 2023 which was advertised across a number of media channels. To date, work continues on the 674 live applications currently proceeding through the system with more than 360 interviews now concluded; 317 fitness tests; 191 part one medicals completed; 129 part two medicals complete; and 56 applicants already attested.

It is clear that a more robust and streamlined recruitment process lent itself to the CODF recommendations relating to the structure and strength of the RDF. The measures which have been taken to improve the administration of medicals are a clear example of this. I am advised that a broad spectrum of initiatives are currently under development to enable the RDF to deliver enhanced military capabilities when and where required in support of the PDF. These initiatives and the enabling actions will be outlined in the Reserve Defence Force regeneration and development plan which is being drafted by the ORA. The plan which is to be submitted to the Tánaiste in the near future is due for publication in the early third quarter of this year and, as I have already confirmed, the Government remains committed to bolstering the numbers of the RDF.

In that context, the upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages for the RDF were recently increased to match those for the Permanent Defence Force and a budget of €2,050,000 for the RDF was exceeded last year by nearly €190,000, due to an increase in training days completed by RDF members in 2023. This is a clear example of positive growth and of a regeneration of the RDF in 2023 and, as a result, an increase in the budget has been provided for 2024.

While the majority of measures supporting recruitment and retention will inevitably incur some overheads, all options to bolster recruitment and retention will be considered. I would add that there are regular informal meetings also between the association which represents the Reserve, departmental officials and military management where issues affecting the RDF are discussed.

I thank the Senator again for raising this matter and assure him that it is the intention of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to ensure that the momentum behind the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained throughout 2024 and in the coming year. I thank the Cathaoirleach.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and I welcome Congressman Swalwell.

I will make a number of further comments. It was a recommendation, as pointed out by the Minister of State, from the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022 that there would be a regeneration plan for the RDF. It is in the works but my frustration with it, and indeed the frustration of many other people who know a great deal more about this than I do, is the slowness of it. I say that with great respect to the Minister of State as this is not his brief but I ask that the Minister of State please say to the Tánaiste that we are very anxious this would be accelerated. Even the third quarter of this year is a bit far away and I am not being facetious when I say that I do not believe it is rocket science to produce this plan quickly and get it up there. It is well known what needs to go into it and, like I said, we can make the RDF an exciting group to be in and can work with employers to be facilitative. We can create an environment where Reserve members can do many things particularly with apprenticeships, etc., and to just make it better.

I welcome the presence of the Minister of State and thank him for his response.I am concerned that we get real action here soon across the whole area. I ask the Minister of State to point that out to the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence. This needs to be done for the young people concerned but also given the current geopolitical climate. We need to do it for 110 reasons. I thank the Minister of State.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I hear Senator O'Reilly's concerns. I again thank him for raising this important matter. I know the Defence Forces are very important to him and I assure him that the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence shares those concerns. That is why he has implemented the regeneration plan, which he intends to advance as quickly as possible.

The ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces with regard to recruitment and retention are fully acknowledged and well documented. In this, however, we are no different from other international military forces which, in a competitive labour market, are also experiencing similar difficulties. I reiterate that the immediate focus for the Tánaiste, as Minister for Defence, is on stabilising the numbers of personnel and facilitating capacity for further increases. In light of the CoDF report and the report of the independent review group, IRG, a significant programme of reform and culture change within the Defence Forces has been prioritised to ensure that it is an equal opportunities employer, reflective of contemporary Irish society and providing a workplace underpinned by dignity, equality and mutual respect.

The strategic framework for the transformation of the Defence Forces, which was published in September 2024 by the Tánaiste, sets out clear targets for the vital work that is under way relating to the transformation of the Defence Forces. The targets are important to drive the reform sought by the Senator.

The RDF has a significant role to play in that transformation. The development of a regeneration plan for the Reserve is a key step in this endeavour. I assure the Senator that the recruitment and retention of Defence Forces personnel continues to be a key priority for the Tánaiste, just as it is for the Senator.