Vol. 494 No. 3
185 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of times the review body of the FCÁ, as set up by the Chief of Staff, has met since it was established; its terms of reference; when he expects its final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18142/98]
186 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of times the joint military civilian steering group has met since it was established; its terms of reference; when he expects its final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18143/98]
187 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the composition of the military review board set up by the Chief of Staff in October 1997 to conduct a special study of the Reserve Defence Force; whether any members of this review board are also members of the military and civilian review board set up by him; the differences, if any, in the work of the two groups; the interaction, if any, between the two groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18144/98]
In October 1977, the Chief of Staff established a review board to conduct a special study of the Reserve Defence Force. The board was given the following terms of reference: to examine the report on the following aspects of the Reserve Defence Force; future role(s) and military capabilities; the assimilation of the first and second line Reserve and resultant consequences; organisational structures and command and control arrangements for: reserve units; reserve elements within PDF units; PDF support to units and elements of the Reserve; higher level elements at DFHQ and formation levels; the Defence Forces Training Centre — reserve functions and requirements; the advisability of having an Air Corps Reserve element; training policies including assimilation with PDF policies; equipment and infrastructure requirements for the next ten years; deployment arrangements down to subunit level; personnel issues including age profile and pay and conditions of service matters; projected expenditure profile of the Reserve Defence Force; administrative and financial control arrangements including amending or redrafting of relevant DFRs and/or the Defence Act; and an implementation framework for putting in place the recommendations of the board.
The board, which is made up of ten army and one naval officer, is required to consult with a consultative group comprising commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the FCÁ and the Slua Muirí. The board has met on some 40 occasions to date, and it will issue its final report before the end of l998.
