Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I do not have the precise figure but will get it for the Deputy. I refer not only to the Vote but also to the other measures in which the Department of Finance has allowed us to engage such as selling off property assets surplus to requirements, the proceeds of which we have reinvested in the defence Vote. We have a slimmed down, highly trained, well equipped Army in comfortable barracks, well used to foreign missions, the pride of the country. If Deputy Deenihan were to study the budget contributions of his colleagues on the Front Bench, he would not agree with increases in expenditure. Deputy Bruton tells us we are running the country into bankruptcy because we are spending too much but the Deputy is suggesting that we spend more.

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