Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

In the Estimates some figures stand out. The reduction in the allocation for consultancy services from €50,000 to €32,000 is welcome. I am concerned, however, about the 17% reduction in the Reserve Defence Force allocation from €12.5 million to €10.5 million. There is an 18% reduction in the figure for compensation from €7.6 million to €6.2 million. There is a 26% increase in costs arising from Ireland's participation in the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy from €1.2 million to €1.6 million. Will the Minister explain the major reduction in appropriations-in-aid, down from almost €25 million to €10.7 million, a reduction of 57%?

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