Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This question is for Lieutenant Colonel Priestley. I thank him for outlining all the great work the Defence Forces have been doing as a result of the Covid emergency. I am mindful that it sounds like many very expensive operations have been taking place, even paying additional staff for additional hours and the additional equipment. The Department of Justice received many additional millions of euro to assist it in providing the State's response. Similarly, the Department of Education received many additional millions of euro in the Supplementary Estimate while the Department of Health received many additional billions of euro in its Supplementary Estimate. To the best knowledge of the RACO representatives, has the Department of Defence requested an additional Supplementary Estimate for the defence budget in light of the great and expensive work that the Defence Forces have been doing over the last 15 months? Do they know if the Department of Defence applied for a Supplementary Estimate to defray some of the costs associated with Covid or any other emergency over the last number of decades?