Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

It is my intention to keep it at that ratio because it was the ratio recommended by PricewaterhouseCoopers and is generally accepted as being the proper ratio for a military organisation of the type we have in this country. Regarding selling property, we obviously do not have much property left to sell. If income from that source dries up, we must ensure that the Minister for Finance meets any shortfall. Deputy Timmins mentioned further reductions in the Defence Forces, which is not on. We have agreed that the absolute limit is 10,500 people, below which level it will not go.

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