Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Yes, but I will double check the situation for the Deputy. When the moratorium was first introduced, we were advised by the Department of Finance it also applied to the reserve. We had a situation where we had a certain number of non-effective people each year - people who do not turn up for training etc. - and numbers were continually dropping, so I got sanction from the Department of Finance for limited admissions to the reserve to keep it up to the strength it was at the start of the year, which was approximately 7,500 or 7,600. We have been recruiting on a phased basis to bring the numbers back up to that number and are committed to not letting the reserve fall below that number. I am very anxious to preserve the reserve, but am prepared to do whatever we have to in order to engage in the budgetary process.

On the other question asked by Deputy O'Shea, I am also determined to preserve the maximum number of people in the Permanent Defence Force. The McCarthy report recommends we reduce numbers to between 10,000 and 10,500 in total, but does not make it clear whether it sees that as a permanent reduction or a reduction during the period of the financial crisis. However, McCarthy suggests the reduction should be made over a two to three year period. Due to the moratorium, numbers have already reduced to just over 10,000. This is a matter for discussion between me and the Minister for Finance, but I am committed to maintaining the greatest possible strength in both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force.

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