Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I shall clarify for the House the way this will operate. We took the decision that a certain number of people leave the Reserve every year. We looked at the number at the start of the year, which was, I believe, 7,575 and have committed to maintaining that number. In other words, people who go on the non-effective list or who leave will be replaced. We intend to maintain the strength at least at that level. That is our present position but we are keeping the matter under review. If we can do better than that we will do so.

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