Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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The issue of recruitment and retention permeates all the matters raised. While it is perhaps somewhat separate from the recommendations in the report, I would like to get the Minister's view on recruitment strategies and campaigns. While I appreciate that he does not draw up or develop the campaigns, how important does the Minister believe it is that we ensure the campaigns are all-Ireland in nature? Without being reductive on this issue, the bigger pond we fish in, the more chance there is of getting greater numbers. In recent weeks, we had the freshers' fair at Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University and there were also visits to Belfast and Derry by some of the Naval Service vessels. Should there not be an aspect of those events that incorporates a recruitment campaign that is targeted and directed across the Thirty-two Counties? Many people from the North have served in the Defence Forces over long careers. While I agree the Be More campaign is a very slick and professional marketing strategy, I am not sure how many members of the Defence Forces would agree it is reflective of their lived experience. I have seen it on RTÉ, but I have not seen it on UTV. Does the Minister agree that we need to target such campaigns in order to ensure we get the highest number of men and women recruited across the entire country? Sin an méid.