Mr. Brian Molloy:

A figure of 11,500 is envisaged in the CODF to become a formal recommendation or end-of-chapter recommendation as such with regard to the figure of 11,500, but the 11,500 was envisaged in the Commission on the Defence Forces as consisting of military and civilian personnel.

It is not 11,500 military only. It was 9,500 and now it is 9,600. Moving that up to 11,500 military and civilian personnel is the phraseology used in the Commission on Defence Forces. It is hugely challenging; there is absolutely no question about it. To use the phrase, it is a big, unwieldy ship and it has taken time to get it turned. We have shifted from significant multi-hundred negative figures in terms of our strength to point a where, as Ms Sinnamon said, we are getting to a position where it is balanced and stabilised. It might be a few positive or a few negative at the end of this year. It is to be hoped there is a drive on from here into next year and beyond.