Vol. 519 No. 3
44 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the establishment of the Army Reserve or Cúltaca an Airm with regard to the White Paper on Defence; the time scale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13717/00]
146 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if, with regard to the White Paper on Defence, the amount of time the holders of the proposed four new lieutenant-colonel appointments in the RDF would hold these appointments; the mechanism proposed to select those for temporary promotion; the role of each of these appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13859/00]
147 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence when he will be in a position to enable Reserve Defence Force personnel to participate in overseas peace support missions; the arrangements that need to be put in place to enable RDF personnel to spend time overseas and to have the security of civilian employment when they return home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13860/00]
148 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence when it is planned to issue the Reserve Defence Force with the same dress and individually issued personnel equipment as the Permanent Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13862/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 146, 147 and 148 together.
The overall strategy for the development of the Reserve Defence Force is based on the report of a special steering group established by me in January 1998. The group produced its report in September 1999 and the recommendations in it have been accepted as a general basis on which the development of the Reserve Defence Force can proceed. As I have indicated previously, I plan to publish the steering group report in due course. I am satisfied that an in-depth study of the reserve has been undertaken involving a considerable amount of work by both the military board, which was set up by the chief of staff, and the steering group. The steering group met each of the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, which made presentations to the group regarding their areas of concern and it met the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association on three occasions, which also made presentations to the group.
The recent White Paper on Defence, which was approved by Government on 20 February, recognised that a feature of the FCA is that it has a countrywide geographical spread which will in general be retained. The full organisational and establishment details of the new reserve force will be determined in the implementation process which will consist of the development of a Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan based on the steering group's report. The implementation of the structural and reorganisation changes will take place over six years. There will be a requirement for the military authorities to consider and recommend detailed proposals for the restructuring of reserve units within each brigade area and I am advised by the military authorities that such proposals are being drawn up.
As indicated in the White Paper on Defence, an important change recommended by the study of the reserve is that members of the FCA should be considered for participation in overseas peace support missions subject to appropriate qualifications, availability and advance training. Service by reservists on overseas peace support missions by other countries is quite common. General criteria governing selection for overseas service come within the scope of representation and any matters relating to overseas service by members of the reserve, which come within the scope of representation, will be raised with the representative associations at the appropriate forum. The question of the security of civilian employment for the members of the reserve who may wish to serve overseas will be considered as part of the implementation process.
The steering group recommended the creation of four new lieutenant-colonel appointments so that senior Reserve Defence Force officers can serve and influence reserve activities at the highest level in brigade headquarters and the Defence Forces training centre. It is intended that these appointments will form part of the integrated element of the reserve and personnel appointed to these appointments will hold them for the duration of their integrated service. While the mechanism for appointing personnel to these posts has not yet been established it will form part of the implementation process.
How large will the integrated RDF element be? Will the reserve comprise a two-tiered system? What resources does the Minister intend to make available to both elements of the reserve? How soon will the reserve be asked to serve overseas?
The new Army Reserve will comprise 12,000 members. One element will provide personnel who will integrate with PDF units to bring them up to full operational strength in a contingency situation and the other element will provide an overall Army Reserve, which will be organised in three brigades and trained along standard military lines. When the reserve was examined one of my concerns was that maintaining numbers would be difficult, as is the case in many organisations which have a large voluntary complement. I, therefore, sought to provide new accommodation and equipment, training, overseas opportunities and consultation with employers and I examined how our human resources system provides for such consultation. That is why provision was made to restore two week training courses and to provide weekend and night training and other facilities, such as uniforms, arms and equipment. All these resources must be part of the implementation plan to make it more attractive.
I am encouraged by the response of the representative association. I attended its conference, which was extremely positive, and I hope we are opening a new chapter in terms of what RDF members can do. There was a little neglect in the past which we are eradicating and, I hope, we can get the numbers back up to a level at which we can make a difference.
That concludes the time for Priority Questions.
Is the time up for the question I asked?
Yes. The six minutes for that question have elapsed.
Four questions were listed. The other three were for written answers.
There are still only six minutes for a question. The time is not spread around the other questions.
