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

I will be brief given the level and detail of many of the questions so far. The commission report was a commitment in the programme for Government. We should not be shy about acknowledging that the commitment has been honoured. Like all reports and recommendations, it is now about the implementation. I hear what the Minister has said about the 130 recommendations and I support the Chair's request for him to provide an update to us in a colour-coded or other format on the recommendations that have been accepted, those that require further evaluation and the ten that are outstanding.

I welcome much of what the Minister stated about the work that is already progressing on foot of the report on areas from HR to facilities and equipment, as well as the issues mentioned by Deputy Berry. The Minister also stated that on foot of the report being accepted and approved by the Government with regard to the commitment to level of ambition 2 over six years, moving on to level of ambition 3, which relates to the aim to have achieved a level comparable with the defence forces in similar-sized European countries, a steering group will be put in place. This will be headed by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and will devise an implementation plan within six months. That will be the roadmap that will set about delivering the changes on an annual basis, not only in the next two budgets but the four following budgets, as contained in the plan approved by the Government initially. When does the Minister envisage the implementation plan being agreed by the group headed by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, and being open to evaluation, question and delivery by us and others?