Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

No, I said that we have almost concluded our deliberations. We have until just before the budget and we will have reached a conclusion before then. I agree with Deputy O'Shea that the Defence Force is the only public sector organisation in the country where numbers have fallen in the past ten years. I have pointed that out to my Government colleagues and I am putting forward that as a consideration when we are discussing the savings that will apply to the defence sector. Let us make no mistake, however, all sectors have to play their part. I am simply trying to get recognition for what has been achieved already. I hope that will be the case.

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