Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The total reduction for the Department of Defence is to be €140 million, €50 million of which was to be used to make the pay award on 1 September. This award is now not being paid. This €50 million stays with the Exchequer. However, I am not quite clear on a certain figure. The statement on the Department's position indicates there will be pay and non-pay savings but I find it hard to understand the remark that savings of €15 million will be found across a range of defence expenditure categories, including equipment purchase. There are already headings pertaining to procurement and I therefore want to know the distinction. Could the saving of €15 million also have an impact on pay?

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