Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to ask any questions. They have been well covered by everybody. I thank the witnesses for their presentation, their presence and the responses they have given thus far. I acknowledge the submission they have made to the commission and its contents. It is incumbent upon us members of the committee to reflect the witnesses' wishes as best we can when we respond to that with the Minister with a view to the recommendations and how they move forward from there.

To Mr. Richardson, we always found accessibility to Athlone sufficient from our part of County Offaly. Mullingar was there too for another section down south.

Deputy Berry's point is important, regarding the acknowledgement of the issue of foreign service and looking at a way in which the Air Corps could be opened up. The recent package is there for a new promotional mechanism to improve take-up of positions in the Reserve and Permanent Defence Forces. I am conscious of the issues and difficulties in the PDF, including moral issues. I assume as an onlooker that, if there are serious issues in the PDF, they are doubled within the Reserve forces. I hope the issues contained in the submission to the commission are taken as seriously as they should be because that is the starting point from which one would expect many to apply further up the line.