Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the latter point. Criteria have been drawn up by the director of the reserve and the questions of where people came in on the chain, whether they have had medicals done and when they applied will be important. I understand it will be done in chronological order.

I do not want to get specific about numbers. How many we will take on depends on how many drop out or join the non-effective list. We started the year with 7,575 members, give or take one or two. This year, my policy is to ensure numbers do not fall below that figure. To the extent that people leave and that figure is reduced, they can and will be replaced.

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