Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I gather from the Minister's comments that there is no requirement for 10,000 people. Instead, it is a question of how efficient the numbers are. Will the Minister be specific and tell us whether the 10,000 figure is the accepted strength, the maximum or the minimum? Confirming which is important.

I welcome the recruitment to the navy, but will the Minister make use of the Naval Service Reserve and focus on recruitment to it? There seems to be a specific problem with the Naval Service as regards personnel. Will he respond to these two questions?

See this speech in context