Dr. Mark Mellett:

Since I joined the Naval Service 42 years ago, ships have stopped because of personnel and for mechanical reasons. This is part of the battle rhythm of delivering a complex service. There are challenges but they are not challenges which have not happened in the past and we are managing them. One of the key areas is retention. As already stated, there are two aspects to consolidation, namely, the retention of serving personnel, which involves cutting our cloth appropriately, and recruitment, in which we endeavour to get young men and women to join the Defence Forces, particularly the Naval Service. That process is ongoing. There is a competitive market for able seamen. We are at approximately 84% and there are a number who, for various reasons, are not available for seagoing, which makes it difficult to guarantee the level of service we provide. We are trying to expedite recruitment, The competitive edge in the Defence Forces also has a pay aspect and that is why I made the case to the Public Service Pay Commission. I want to double down on that, particularly in the context of the Naval Service and the higher level of churn to which it is subject.