asked the Minister for Defence if he will give retiring members of the Defence Forces the option of training-working with the Reserve Defence Force or doing annual training with the Permanent Defence Force.

Under Defence Force regulations officers retiring from the Permanent Defence Force may be appointed to the Reserve of Officers (First Line). Non-commissioned officers and men may be transferred to the Reserve of Men (First Line). Former members of the Permanent Defence Force may join An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil or An Slua Muirí.

In order to achieve reductions in the level of public expenditure the suspension of annual training for the First Line Reserve and the curtailment of annual training for An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí continues to be necessary.

As I understand it, the position is that the Reserve Defence Force consists of two elements. The First Line Reserve is made up of retired members of the Permanent Defence Forces and the Second Line Reserve is made up of members of the FCA. Does the Minister see that there would be any merit or benefit in amalgamating both and making a unified reserve Defence Force?

There is some merit in that idea and I will have it examined.

Would the Minister further agree that if both are amalgamated retiring members could be given the option of completing their annual training with the Reserve Defence Force and it would be an opportunity to pass on that experience, training and expertise to the part-time reserve Defence Force?

There is some merit in that. The only reason for the curtailment at present is a financial one, but there is something to be said for the principle of it. I will have it examined.