Michael Ring
Ceist:75 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Defence if recently retired officers are being refused entry to the Reserve Forces; and the reasons for depriving them of an opportunity to serve in a voluntary capacity. [28634/00]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Reserve.
The White Paper on Defence provides for a complete reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force. This reorganisation is an important element of the overall White Paper strategy and follows the completion and recent formal publication of the in-depth study of the Reserve Defence Force by the ministerial steering group.
No appointments to the Reserve of Officers have been made pending the completion of the ministerial steering group's report. The formal publication of the group's report and the consultation process in relation to the reorganisation of the Reserve were launched by me on 25 November 2000. The drafting and development of a Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan, which will be based on the steering group's report, will commence shortly.
The question of the number of officers to be appointed to the first line reserve and the duration of such appointments, will be considered in the context of the implementation plan. Pending the drafting of the implementation plan, a number of officers with particular skills and training will be appointed on a selective basis to maintain the reserve strength of officers at a suitable level in the interim.
In this regard, the military authorities are in the process of contacting a number of retired Naval Service officers who had previously applied for appointment to the reserve, to ascertain their continued interest in appointment as reserve officers in the near future.