Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 7

Written Answers. - Information Booklet.

Michael Smith

Question:

172 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Defence the reason the information booklet on the efficiency audit group distributed to the Permanent Defence Forces has not been distributed to reservists; and if he intends to make it available. [18851/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Barrett)

In July this year the Government announced its response to the report of the efficiency audit group on its review of the Defence Forces and published a document detailing the EAG report and setting out the Government's approach to the reorganisation.

That document, which was entitled "Review of the Defence Forces—1995", was circulated widely throughout the whole of the Defence Forces following its publication. A considerable number of copies were made available to the Defence Forces representative bodies including the Reserve Defence Forces Association. Copies were made available to media representatives and members of the public who expressed an interest in the document.

I have stated on a number of occasions that I am fully committed to a consultative approach to the review of the Defence Forces. In line with that approach the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers and the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association has recently been given a presentation on the work of the implementation group, which was set up by the Government to advance the review process. The Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association will shortly receive a similar presentation.