Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The four year plan states that the defence area will contribute savings of €106 million by 2014. One of the issues mentioned is a reduction in the number of civilian employees attached to military installations. What exactly does that mean and what type of numbers may be involved? It obviously indicates that the duties carried out by civilians previously will now be carried out by military personnel, against the backdrop of a decrease in the number of officers and enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces. Are we in danger of reaching a level where the Defence Forces would no longer be a credible organisation fit for purpose?

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