Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will start with Deputy Ó Snodaigh and I will work backwards. The Deputy asked about civilian pay. The figures are actually €23 million on the Permanent Defence Force pay and €5 million on the civilian pay. There has, for various reasons, been a decrease in the number of civilian employees. If, for example, a carpenter is required in a barracks, it might be cheaper to get a contractor to do the job. There are different reasons why those savings are there. Deputy Ó Snodaigh asked if the Department had carried out any sort of a review. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform carries out an annual review on public service pensions so my Department actually feeds in to its annual review. The Deputy mentioned the vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. The other ship is due for delivery in 2018. It is being built at present. We have not decided on a definite name for the new ship but it will be due for delivery in 2018.

Deputy McLoughlin spoke about pensions. We will have an increase of €6 million for pensions next year. The Deputy also asked about overseas personnel. There are more than 660 people serving overseas on 11 different missions. We have increased our personnel in UNIFIL. It was the Finn-Irish Battalion but now it is the Irish-Finn Battalion. It was a joint battalion with the Finns but we have taken over the lead role since earlier this month. Of the 660 personnel overseas, 380 are deployed with UNIFIL.

Reference was made to recruitment. There are, absolutely, enough resources. There are sufficient resources for 9,500 and that will be the case going forward. The Government gave that commitment and it will stand. With regard to the LE William Butler Yeatsvisit, I would have no problem whatsoever with Deputy Tony McLoughlin's suggestion. We can arrange for Sligo County Council members to visit the LE William Butler Yeats. I can arrange that through Sligo County Council or whomever. I can talk to the Deputy about the matter. We would be delighted to do this. On the day of the ship's commissioning, members of the William Butler Yeats family were present in Galway for the ceremony.