Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The first issue I would like the Minister to respond to concerns over-expenditure of €8.5 million on retirement lump sums. As the Minister knows, this matter arose recently when he amended the Defence Vote. He had under-projected the number of Defence Forces members who would take early retirement. An issue seems to arise regarding planning for budgets and anticipating the numbers of members who will retire early. This is related to the debate on An Garda Síochána, in which there has been a loss of experience in a range of areas. This is constantly reported to us as elected Members. Similarly, there was an under-projection regarding Garda vehicles. We acknowledge that an insurance issue arises after a vehicle has been driven 300,000 km. When this mileage is reached, a vehicle must be replaced. One presumes there is a log of the mileage clocked by all vehicles. Planning seems to pose a problem. Will the Minister reassure us that this will not arise next year?

The Minister enjoys good provocation and a good exchange and realises the reference to looking back nostalgically at a policing model that served the State well for over 50 years will elicit a response. I am sure he has anticipated it.