Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Through the implementation of the White Paper since 2000, we have seen significant changes in the Army, in terms of the quality of personnel, equipment and training. My advice is that the organisation is now in a very healthy state in terms of personnel and equipment. It is true that the McCarthy report proposes that we reduce the size of the Permanent Defence Force from 10,500 to 10,000 over two to three years. In the meantime, we have a moratorium on recruitment to the public sector, which includes the Army. Almost uniquely among public service organisations, there is a very high turnover of personnel in the Army. Many people who were not due to retire on age grounds left the Army for one reason or another, even since 1 January 2009. The fact that we cannot recruit to replace those people means that the overall number is dropping quite precipitously.

I do not accept Deputy Deenihan's contention that the command structure is falling apart, but I do accept that there are problems. In a detailed submission I sent to the Minister for Finance, I have asked to be allowed to recruit people at least to replace the people we are losing until the Estimates process concludes and we decide whether or not to implement the recommendations of the McCarthy report in whole, in part or not at all. We have problems with people who are acting up to positions but who are not getting the appropriate allowance. These people are also affected by the moratorium. We are also having a problem with promotions. I have got around some of those problems, as I indicated in my original reply, but I have made submissions to the Minister for Finance on the other issues. I am hoping that we will have a decision on that before the next question time on defence issues.

See this speech in context