The Defence Forces review implementation plan 1996-1998, which was approved by Government in March 1996, provides for a special study of the Reserve Defence Force, which consists of the first line reserve made up of former members of the Permanent Defence Forces, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí, to be undertaken during the lifetime of the plan. Accordingly, in November 1997 I announced the setting up of a joint civilian/military steering group to carry out this examination. As part of the examination process, the chief of staff established a military board to conduct a study of the reserve. Part of the function of the steering group was to oversee and guide the military board in its task.
Military boards are convened from time to time by the chief of staff to examine and report to him on various military matters and reports of such boards are not published. Accordingly, the military authorities do not propose to publish the final report of the military board convened by the chief of staff to conduct the study of the reserve. In May 1999 the military board presented a copy of its final report to the steering group for consideration. On 2 September 1999 when the steering group had completed its review of the reserve, including consideration of the military board report, it submitted to me a draft report which I am currently in the process of examining.
Pending completion of consideration of the draft report I do not intend to make any comment on the findings or recommendations contained in the report, or on the procedures that will be necessary to implement such findings or recommendations. As I have indicated previously, I plan to publish the steering group report in due course.