Vol. 509 No. 6
196 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 19 October 1999, the date on which he received the draft report of the joint civilian-military steering group which carried out a special study of the Reserve Defence Forces; if he will publish the report before the end of 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21856/99]
The Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan (1996-98) – 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. Part of the function of the steering group was to oversee and guide the military board in its task. The steering group has completed its examination and on 2 September 1999 submitted a draft report which I am currently in the process of examining.
Pending completion of consideration of the draft report I do not intend to make any comment on the findings or recommendations contained in the report. As I have indicated previously I plan to publish the steering group report in due course.
