Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State's answer on the Minister's speech. On the putative figure of 1,000 more personnel, that would represent a major cost to the Exchequer and I would be concerned about this. The present figure of 10,500 is adequate for our current needs. Will the Minister of State accept that if we were to employ 1,000 extra personnel, it would be better to employ public servants in terms of frontline services such as health, education, disabilities and to provide help for cystic fibrosis patients, for instance? Will he agree that should be our focus over the next two to three years?

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