Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Statistics can prove anything and the Minister dealt with this in his earlier comments. Is the reduction in Army personnel which occurred during the past few years a pattern and, as referred to in my question, can the increase in spending be identified during that period? I listened to this debate for the past while. On the one hand the Labour Party calls for increases in defence spending, while on the other hand the Green Party, its purported partner in Government, seeks a reduction in defence spending, and is frightened about the constitution for Europe and battle groups.

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