Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
198. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the process for allowing former reservists re-enlist in the Reserve Defence Force to serve overseas in specific circumstances and allowing retired members of the Permanent Defence Force to move over to the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29806/20]
View answerThere is currently no provision in the Defence Acts to allow members of the RDF to be deployed overseas. The primary roles allocated to the RDF, remain to augment the Permanent Defence Force in crisis situations and to contribute to State ceremonial events.
The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to join the Army Reserve (AR) or Naval Service Reserve (NSR). This is subject to their meeting certain criteria.
Direct entry to the First Line Reserve (FLR) is limited to personnel who are departing the PDF and have undertaken, either voluntarily or on foot of a contractual commitment, to complete a period of service in the FLR.
I am certainly open to looking at the possibility of RDF members serving overseas on a voluntary basis. This could provide a means to augment the PDF in specialisms where skills gaps currently exist. I am also open to considering how recruitment, including of former members of the PDF, to the RDF can be improved.
In this context, the programme for Government provides for the establishment for a Commission on the Defence Forces and the work of the Commission will inform the future development of the RDF.
