Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2016
27. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to send members of the Reserve Defence Force overseas in a civil or military co-operation role or in any other role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16901/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, there is currently no provision in the Defence Acts to allow Reserve Defence Force personnel to be deployed overseas. The White Paper on Defence confirmed that the primary role of the Reserve Defence Force is to augment the Permanent Defence Force in crisis situations and to contribute to State ceremonial events. It was also identified in the White Paper on Defence that there may be professional skills that, on occasion, are not readily available in the Permanent Defence Force.
Arising from the fact that there may be individual members of the RDF who, by virtue of their professional civilian qualifications, have the competence to undertake such specialised tasks and fill the skills gap, the Government has decided that a panel of such professionally qualified members of the RDF, to be known as the specialist reserve, should be established. In tandem with the establishment of this specialist reserve, my Department will identify the options available to underpin the engagement of its members, whose personal circumstances would allow them to undertake required tasks, including on overseas missions where appropriate.
As part of the implementation plan for the wide range of initiatives relating to the reserve in the White Paper, the Secretary General, in conjunction with the Chief of Staff, will in due course bring forward proposals for the operation of such a scheme. This will be with a view to affording a small number of suitably qualified members of the RDF the opportunity to undertake operational duties at home and overseas with the Permanent Defence Force, PDF.
I am aware that there are no provisions in the Defence Acts but it is within the Minister of State’s gift to change that and make those provisions available, if so required. The Minister of State’s predecessor, Deputy Coveney, stated, as identified in the White Paper, that there may be professional skills that on occasion are not readily available in the PDF and that arising from that there may be individual members in the RDF who, as a result of their civilian qualifications and skills, may be able to complete certain tasks and bridge the gap where there is a shortfall of skills in the PDF and that a panel of professionally qualified people, known as the specialist reserve, should be put together. That White Paper issued last year. Has this reserve been established, and if not, why not? When does the Minister of State propose to do that?
The White Paper confirms that the primary role of the reserve is to augment the PDF in times of crisis and to participate in ceremonial events. Within that context, initiatives for the reserve outlined in the White Paper state that the potential to utilise the reserve in a voluntary unpaid capacity will be progressed in consultation with the representative associations and that consideration will be given to activating reserve sub-units for short periods of training with the PDF units or other support tasks. Specialist members of the RDF will be placed on a panel as a specialist reserve and, subject to their availability, will be considered for an option to meet specialist skills shortages. The terms and conditions of membership of the first line reserve will be revised to include capping the length of service for members, reactivating the annual paid leave, and introducing criteria for the retention of an effective member and the case for current gratuity will be examined. Consideration will be given to establishing a database of former members of the Army reserve, Naval Service reserve, first line reserve and PDF who could be called upon to volunteer in a crisis by listing these as an active reserve.
I thank the Minister of State but he still has not answered my question. When will the specialist reserve be established? In respect of identifying the role of the RDF, three times today the Minister of State has told me the role of the RDF. I served in the RDF for 13 years. I know very well the role of the RDF and do not need to be told it three times.
In respect of the skills survey to be undertaken, the Minister of State has said his Department will identify options available to underpin the engagement of the specialist reserve. Has he outlined these options? Has he engaged on the particular task about which he has just spoken? As outlined in the White Paper, the Secretary General in conjunction with the Chief of Staff will bring forward proposals for the operation of a scheme that affords a small number of suitably qualified members of the RDF whose personal circumstances allow them to participate in overseas service. Has the Secretary General brought forward such proposals?
I will come back to the Deputy on exactly when the specialist reserve will be set up. It will be done in conjunction with the Secretary General of the Department, the Chief of Staff and myself. I would like to see it being brought forward as soon as possible because it is in the White Paper which we are implementing. I will come back to the Deputy with an exact date in that regard.
What was the Deputy’s final question?
Has the Secretary General brought forward proposals for the operation of a scheme that affords a number of suitably qualified RDF members to undertake overseas service?
I have not yet seen any proposals. The next time I respond to parliamentary questions I will bring it to the Deputy’s attention when such a proposal is brought to my attention, if that answers the Deputy’s question.
