Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a copy for the pay commission and the pay commission will probably publish it when it finishes its deliberations. Last year, I sought that the Defence Forces be highlighted and in fairness to the pay commission, it came back after meeting the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe. The Minister highlighted two areas, namely, health and the Defence Forces. I am happy that we will go through this process and reach a conclusion to this. Let the pay commission do its work. It is an independent commission, separate from politicians and Government. It will make recommendations to Government, which will then consider those recommendations.

The Senator referred to the figure of 8,800. It is just 9,000 in the Permanent Defence Forces who are-----