Vol. 506 No. 2
148 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the reasons members of the second line reserve are not permitted to serve overseas; the representations, if any, made to him on this issue by the Defence Forces representative associations; the nature of these representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15084/99]
The Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan (1996-1998) – which was approved by Government in March, 1996 – provides for a special study of the Reserve Defence Force, which consists of the first line reserve made up of former members of the Permanent Defence Force, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí, to be undertaken during the lifetime of the plan. Accordingly, in November, 1997, I announced the setting up of a joint civilian/military steering group to carry out this examination. As part of the examination process, the chief of staff established a military board to conduct a study of the reserve. The joint civilian/military steering group, as part of its work, oversees and guides the military board in its task.
The Reserve Defence Force Representative Association – RDFRA – made presentations, both oral and written, to the steering group. In addition, the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers – RACO – and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks' Representative Association – PDFORRA – made presentations to the steering group. As the proceedings of the group are confidential, I am not in a position to comment on matters before the group at this stage other than to confirm that the question of members of the FCÁ undertaking overseas service with units of the Permanent Defence Force is one of the aspects of reserve service that is being examined.
General criteria governing selection for overseas service come within the scope of representation. In that regard, the question of members of the second line reserve serving overseas has been raised at meetings of the conciliation council in 1998 by both RACO and PDFORRA. Any matters relating to overseas service by members of the reserve which come within the scope of representation will be raised with the associations at the appropriate forum.
