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

I asked the former Minister, Michael Smith, about overseas deployment. That was not today or yesterday; it was a long time ago, but the Chair and I remember it. When we talk about not rushing, there is not rushing and then there is not rushing.

I refer to the establishment strength of the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force. The Tánaiste told us in response to a parliamentary question a few weeks ago that the establishment strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 9,600 and that of the Reserve Defence Force was 4,069. Is that the actual ambition, the final figures we are talking about? If that is the establishment strength now, as the Tánaiste said, where are we going with that? Are the ceilings going to be raised further with respect to the overall plan?