Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The shortfall in the PDF numbers 144 people. While 40 people are being recruited into the Naval Service, the numbers are not large. It is striking that, although the McCarthy target of reducing the number in the PDF to 10,000 from 10,500 was to be achieved in a two to three-year period, it was achieved before the end of last year.

Given the fact that many young people would like to be recruited into the Defence Forces, is there a case to be made for reverting to the Department of Finance to seek a more graduated approach to reducing the numbers? If an additional 200 people were recruited in 2010, further recruitment could occur and the target set by McCarthy could still be reached.

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