Mr. Justice Alan Mahon:

The Chair is probably aware that I have no role, nor do I have any jurisdiction, in relation to pay and conditions in the Defence Forces. That has been the subject of many public accounts over the past 12 to 18 months. I am aware of the fact that the numbers in the Defence Forces have dropped. There has been a recruitment campaign in recent times but I do not know how successful it has been. My work would not suggest any particular reason those issues have arisen in the Defence Forces.