Reserves are always willing to answer the call

I FEEL compelled to reply to Aisling Murphy (Letters, Nov 9). She asked how many Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) personnel turned in during the bad weather last winter.

We all did, as we were not asked to turn ‘out’. Similarly, we weren’t asked to turn out for Queen Elizabeth’s or President Obama’s visits which ran up a bill of €31m. The RDF were available if asked and could have carried out a lot of the security duties at a fraction of the cost and drain on resources if they were asked.

Ms Murphy also states the RDF is costing €15m to maintain. It’s not the RDF that is costing the €15m but all the Lt Colonels and their associated staff.The RDF is well capable of functioning without any of these 116 LGs.

Last year, during the forest fires in the northeast, RDF personnel on the ground in the locality were available to help. They were ignored/refused, yet busloads of troops on allowances were brought up from the Curragh. So let’s get things into perspective here. The RDF is not the problem or the underlying cause of barrack closures. I could go on and on here about where savings can be made in the DOD and a lot more. I have served in the RDF/FCA proudly for over 40 years and have never refused to answer the call. And it has cost me a lot more than I’ve ever received in return.

Martin G. O’Shea

Lake View Drive

Templemore

Co Tipperary