David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the challenges the Naval Service has, as the Minister has outlined. I encourage him to do what he can to increase the numbers there. I understand that military personnel are highly valued in the private sector and are often directly recruited by the private sector. I am also concerned about the Naval Service vessel patrol days, which numbered 1,408 in 2017 and just over 1,000 in 2019. The Minister might comment on that.

I am glad to hear the Minister committing to having a look at the Reserve Defence Force and to trying to increase and support it. I am concerned about its effective strength, which is 1,698. That is less than half of what it was at its establishment. In 1990, the forerunner, which used to be call the Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil, was 14,000. Maybe on another day we could have a full meeting on the Reserve Defence Force, its role and what can be done to strengthen it. It is almost on life support at this stage with 1,698 members, and I am not sure if any of that number are non-effective or even if that distinction still exists or not. I contend it performed a role, which was to give young people an outlet and an opportunity to experience military life. Quite often, people who did that for a period would then maybe make a decision to take up a role in the Permanent Defence Force. The amount of money being spent on that every year is dropping as well, which is probably reflective of the fall in strength of the Reserve Defence Force. It is something that needs our serious attention, and a serious debate on the future and role of the Reserve Defence Force, if it has one, is required.