Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 November 2013
16. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if he has recently met the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association to discuss its concerns regarding the changes to the Reserve Defence Forces and if he will provide an update on same. [46633/13]
View answerSince I accepted the Report on the Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) which identified the need for reform I have not received a request for a meeting with the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association (RDFRA). Should such a request be received I would, of course, give it due consideration. The major re-organisation of the RDF currently underway is being overseen by a High Level Implementation Group comprising senior civil and Military Management of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The Group, meets on a regular basis, and has been planning and implementing the recommended changes and a new “Single Force” structure is now in place which has dovetailed with the re-organisation of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF).
RDFRA has had a significant input into the change process for the Reserve. A series of bi-lateral meetings of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces commenced, and are continuing, on a regular basis with RDFRA. These meetings, which are chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), are also attended by Military personnel and Departmental staff. The meetings afford RDFRA an opportunity to raise issues they may have in relation to the re-organisation of the Reserve. Similar meetings were held with the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) at which they were afforded the opportunity to raise issues they had in connection with the PDF Cadre support staff in relation to the re-organisation of the Reserve.
I am advised by the Military Authorities that the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) also attended the RDF Special Delegate Conference, in March 2013, at which he addressed a wide variety of issues raised by their members in relation to the re-organisation of the RDF. Two seminars were also held, on 29 June and 28 September 2013, in the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp. These were held for Unit Commanders and RDF Sub Unit Commanders in order to afford them the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have had in relation to the re-organisation.
In addition, there have been on-going briefings to the Reserve Defence Force by relevant Military Personnel in relation to the re-organisation of the Reserve. I am satisfied that there are sufficient and robust systems in place within the Defence Organisation to ensure that issues of concern to members of the Reserve Defence Force are brought to my attention, as appropriate.
