Vol. 552 No. 1
25 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the possibility of members of the FCA serving overseas; the number of such applications received from FCA personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11775/02]
51 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations of the 1999 special steering group on the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11779/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 51 together.
I am advised by the military authorities that a military board, the Reserve Defence Forces review implementation board, on which the FCA is represented, has been established at Defence Forces headquarters to formulate specific plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the Reserve steering group. I established the special steering group in 1998 to undertake a study of the Reserve and the group reported to me in September 1999. Under the aegis of the military board, structures have been put in place in each brigade and the Naval Service to facilitate consultation with FCA and Slua Muirí personnel throughout the country. Given the dependence of the Reserve on voluntary service, I was anxious that there should be an ongoing process of consultation before proposals are finalised. The military authorities have advised that the process of formulating revised structures for the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing and the draft Reserve Defence Forces review implementation board report is expected to be submitted to the Chief of Staff shortly.
The Permanent Defence Force is now organised around a three brigade structure and a Defence Forces training centre. The Reserve Defence Force will be similarly reorganised and restructured. It is envisaged that the implementation of these changes in the Reserve Defence Force will take place over a period of approximately six years. The White Paper on Defence recognised that a notable and important feature of the existing FCA organisation is its countrywide geographical spread. This aspect will be generally retained in the future. The full organisational and establishment details of the new reserve force will be determined in the course of the ongoing detailed implementation process.
In general terms, the blueprint for the new Reserve Defence Force will involve replacing the FCA with an Army Reserve consisting of two elements. One element will provide personnel who will integrate with Permanent Defence Force units to bring them up to full operational strength in a contingency situation. Personnel who opt for a period of integrated service will be provided with enhanced military training. The larger element will provide the overall Army Reserve, organised into three reserve brigades.
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 suitable qualifications, personal availability and appropriate advance training. Service by reservists on overseas peace support missions in 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. Accordingly, pending the completion of the implementation plan applications to serve overseas have not been received from members of the Reserve. I must emphasise that the steering group was mindful of the need to preserve and retain the very many traditional and well established strengths of the current reserve system, not least the admirable spirit of individual voluntary commitment, close social links with local communities and a good depth and scope as regards nationwide geographical spread.
