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

I have a few issues. I asked how long it takes from date of application to date of attestation for recruits in the various areas. It is related to what Deputy Berry has been saying with respect to the various barriers. People get tired of waiting and head off somewhere else.

On the psychometric tests, I asked a parliamentary question and received a reply a few weeks later from the military authorities via the Minister. It said the number of tests administered in 2021 was 4,108 and the number of completed tests failed was 2,278. Those figures came from the Defence Forces, and do not imply someone started and could not carry on. When someone starts a psychometric test and does not finish it, we could put questions around that as well. We could be losing many people who would be good in the Defence Forces because of this barrier, which Deputy Berry has alluded to. I have met people who talk about this. It seems insignificant, but I do not think it is.