The Minister for Defence has unveiled a major restructuring of the reserve defence force which will allow part-time soldiers serve with Irish troops abroad.
At a ceremony in Clonmel's Kickham Barracks this afternoon, Mr Michael Smith described the Implementation Plan as the largest in the service's history.
The new Reserve Defence Force (RDF) will be based on the structure and organisation of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). It will be made up of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve. The Army Reserve will have 11,948 members, while the Naval division will be 400-strong.
The Army Reserve will follow the standard Infantry Brigade model. It will be comprised of three Reserve Infantry Brigades with 9,292 personnel and a 2656-strong Integrated Reserve.
This brigade will be integrated into the full military for service with UN missions in areas like Bosnia and Liberia. However, unlike members of the Permanent Defence Forces, reserve soldiers will only be stationed abroad if they volunteer to go.
The Naval Service Reserve will be organised into two groups each consisting of two companies. These will continue to be based in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Waterford.
The RDF will have the same roles as assigned to the Defence Forces, namely defence against external aggression; aid to the Garda Siochana; participation in overseas peace missions; fishery protection and other tasks assigned by the Government.