Mr. Brian O'Keeffe:

I agree with Deputy Donohoe and I think it is compounded by the fact that the public generally does not understand the work of the Defence Forces. It does not understand the organisation and what we do, which makes it very difficult. When it sees a list of allowances, it cannot relate them to what they are for, which has caused us huge difficulties. The vilification of the public sector, particularly, the Permanent Defences Force, has been very damaging to its morale when one sees certain allowances in lights, shall we say.