Minister Smith reorganises reserve forces

RADICAL proposals for the restructuring of army reserve units within each brigade area were announced yesterday by the Minister for Defence, Michael Smith.

But Fine Gael defence spokesman Dinny McGinley warned the Government against using the review of the reserve forces as an excuse for downsizing the regular forces.

“There is a clear consensus that the reserve needs a radical and integrated programme of real change - we now have such a programme.

“Some aspects of change will be popular, while others will be endured. Some may prove unpopular within some local communities.

“But the simple fact remains that some minor local sacrifices will have to be made now to secure major benefits in the overall future of the reserve. The implementation process being launched today points the only way forward to a successful organisation,” the minister said.

In a major departure, the reservists will now have the same roles as permanent members and some reserve units are to be integrated with permanent ones.

The plan also outlines the renaming of reserve units and reorganisation into a brigade format which will mirror the permanent defence forces’ three-brigade structure.

Brian O’Keeffe, of officers’ representative body RACO, said the organisation broadly agreed with the plan but have reservations about the use of reserve troops overseas.

Mr O’Keeffe said: “We do not have a difficulty with specialists, such as medical personnel or mechanics, but would have a problem with line soldiers, because lives are at stake and they would have to be up to standard.

“One thing that we would not countenance is permanent forces under the command of reserve officers.”

The new army reserve will comprise a total strength of about 12,000 members. At any given time, just fewer than 2,700 personnel will be serving with reserve sub-units integrated with PDF units - the so-called ‘integrated’ reserve. Such ‘integrated’ service alongside the PDF will be on an entirely voluntary basis.

The main body of the army reserve, some 9,300, will be organised in three reserve brigades, which themselves will be a mirror reflection of the comparable PDF brigade structures. The Slua Múirí will become the naval service reserve and will be 400 strong.