Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Defence his proposals to disband the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17172/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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There are no plans to disband the Reserve Defence Force. The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009 and, as with the public service generally. The Defence Organisation is required to operate with reduced funding. In this context, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force has been suspended for the present. While the budgetary provision for training of members of the Reserve has been reduced, it will be sufficient to allow all current members of the Reserve to undertake paid training during 2009.