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Alan Shatter TD (Minister for Defence) and Major Gen Finn (D COS Sp)
Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association (RDFRA)
BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY SGT MICK BURKE (DF PRESS OFFICE)
Leonard McKeown (Chair of the NEC), Alan Shatter TD (Minister for Defence) and Tom Walsh (RDFRA Gen Sec)
On the 9-10 Sept 2011, the RDFRA held their annual delegate conference in the Officers Mess, Ceannt Bks, Curragh Camp, DFTC. Their guest of honour was, Alan Shatter TD (Minister for Defence) who ad- dressed the delegates; he was accompanied by Ma- jor Gen Michael Finn (D COS Sp) who also addressed the conference. The main speakers were RDFRA Gen Sec Tom Walsh and the Chair of the National Execu- tive Committee (NEC) Leonard McKeown.
Minister Shatter; "I am very positively disposed to maintaining an effective Reserve within the resourc- es available. In that regard, I am aware that there is a need for promotions across the Reserve to fill gaps in the organisation and command structure."
Alan Shatter TD (Minister for Defence) addresses the conference
Pictured at the conference are (L/R): Pte Jason Byrne (B Coy, 33 Res Inf Bn), A/Sea Evan Toban (Limerick NSR), A/Sea Amie Rush (Limerick NSR) and Tpr Charlie Farrell (62 Res Cav Sqn).
The main points were: • No defined role yet for the RDF • No plans for recruitment for the RDF in 2012 • Current strength of the RDF: 5,726 (7,671 prior to moratorium on recruitment)
• Man-Days allocation for the RDF training down to: 31,000 (previously at 60,000 in 2009)
• RDFRA Membership: 4,041 • RDFRA Recruitment in 2010: 2 E Bde 49 - 1 S Bde 3 - 4 W Bde 77 - NSR 8 = 137
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: RDFRA National Office, Clarke Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare Email: info@rdfra.ie | Web: www.rdfra.ie Facebook: www.facebook.com/RDFRA Phone: +353 (0)45 445204 / 456691 Fax: +353 (0)45 445205
THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE
