Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Going back to what Deputy Chambers stated about a response he received to a parliamentary question, the "net surrender" is a technical term. If one looks into it, the net surrender to the Exchequer includes the surplus of appropriations-in-aid. It does not reflect the Vote 35 or Vote 36 that I, along with my officials, negotiate with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance. Appropriations-in-aid could be: UN receipts, receipts from the EU fishery protection costs, receipts from banks and other organisations, receipts from occupation and official quarters, receipts from rations on repayment, receipts of issues on repayment, receipts of aviation fuel, receipts of discharge by purchase; and for the sale of land or premises.

It also includes income from the sale of surplus stores, refunds in respect of services of seconded personnel, miscellaneous items and income from the Dormant Accounts Fund. This has nothing to do with Votes 35 or 36. Between 2014 and 2018, a total of €4.2 million or 0.09% of Votes 35 and 36 was handed back to the Exchequer. I make no excuse or apology for the fact that all pay savings have been reinvested for the benefit of the men and women of the Defence Forces, for example, to pay for equipment, built infrastructure, new ships and new aircraft. I am not going to hand that money back to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The budget for the Defence Forces has exceeded €1 billion in the past two years under my stewardship. I would describe that as a successful negotiation with the Minister for Finance on my part and on the part of my officials.