Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 April 2016
204. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Defence to investigate the status of members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil who retire from their positions after a number of years of service but receive no official recognition or commendation marking this milestone; if he will address this and honour this voluntary service; if the Minister has made any plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7624/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUpon retirement from the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF), Other Ranks personnel are presented with an AF42 RDF, Certificate of Discharge which recognises their service with the RDF. Officers of the RDF receive a Certificate of Service, which similarly recognises their service. In addition, there are specific service awards made to members of the RDF depending on the duration of service. In this regard, RDF personnel are awarded a Service Medal after seven (7) years service, after twelve (12) years service they receive a bar to their Service Medal and after twenty one (21) years service they receive a second bar to their Service Medal.
I value highly the spirit of service and voluntarism of members of the RDF and I am greatly appreciative of the time and effort which they freely give through participation in training and other reserve activities. I believe that the awards and certificates, already in place, satisfactorily recognise this service and have no plans to introduce any further proposals for further recognition.
