Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank him for the investment in Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick and the facilities there, which will be received gratefully.

Regarding his comments on the commission for the Defence Forces, I very much welcome that he has brought that commitment from the programme for Government to the top of his agenda and that he hopes to have it established by the end of the year. I hope it will report back within 12 months, again as per the commitments in the programme.

There is a reduction in spending under subhead A11, Naval Service: equipment and support. I am curious about the reason for the reduction. I thought that in the context of Brexit and the need to protect our territorial waters, that we would perhaps spend more in this area. The Minister might elaborate on that spend and on future plans in that area.