Vol. 533 No. 6
149 Mr. M. Brady asked the Minister for Defence if there are any proposals for the deployment of FCA personnel on overseas service with the UN; and the position regarding leave of absence from employment for members who wish to engage in such duties. [9441/01]
The overall strategy for the future development of the Reserve Defence Force will be based on the report of the special steering group, which I established in January 1998, and which reported to me in September 1999. A thorough, comprehensive and in-depth study of the reserve was undertaken, involving a very considerable amount of work both by a military board, established by the then Chief of Staff, and latterly by the steering group.
The full organisational and establishment details of the new Reserve Defence Force, as envisaged by the steering group, will be determined in the course of a detailed implementation process. That process will comprehend the drafting and development of a Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan, which will be based on the steering group's report.
As indicated in the White Paper on Defence, an important change recommended by the study of the Reserve Defence Force is that, in future, members should be considered for participation in overseas peace support missions, subject to proper qualifications, availability and advance training. Service by comparable reservists on overseas peace support missions is common in other countries.
However, the general criteria governing selection for overseas service are issues within the scope of the representation. Therefore, any matters relating to proposals for future overseas service by members of the Reserve Defence Force, which come within the scope of representation, will be raised with the representative associations at the appropriate forum. In addition, the question of security of civilian employment, for those members of the force who may wish to serve overseas, will have to be considered.
