Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2016
216. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Defence why a member (details supplied), along with ten other members, of the Reserve Defence Forces was excluded from the remainder of training for the 1916 commemorative parade on O'Connell Street in Dublin 1 as part of the Easter Rising ceremonies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4773/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe final dress rehearsal for the 1916 commemorative parade was conducted in the Defence Forces training centre, the Curragh, on Tuesday 15 March. In preparation for this final dress rehearsal, the 1st Battalion Company conducted a number of periods of training in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore and participated in Defence Forces-level training rehearsals in the Defence Forces training centre. The 1st Battalion Company paraded in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore, on Saturday 12 March. This unit rehearsal was the final opportunity for the 1st Battalion Company to select the personnel who had reached the required standard to represent on parade.
A number of personnel were identified by the relevant military authorities as not having reached the required standard of dress, deportment and drill to enable them to be selected as part of the 1st Battalion Company marching body.
All personnel were informed on numerous occasions of the need, irrespective of the number of rehearsals attended, to meet the required standard of dress, drill and deportment. The 15th March was the final Defence Forces dress rehearsal and there is no further training scheduled at Defence Force or Unit level.
