David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

According to the Minister's reply, the Permanent Defence Forces appears to be 500 under strength. Is the Minister allowed to bring the Defence Forces to a strength of 10,000, all ranks? Does this mean he has a flexibility to increase the numbers by, approximately, 500? Has he plans to do that in the immediate future?

Does the Minister know when the review will be completed? Has he asked the military authorities and his officials when the review might be completed and when it might be presented to him?

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