Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

As to the latter concern, I have no worries in that regard. I am absolutely certain that the Defence Forces will be fit for purpose, and that has been proven. Of all Departments, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have most successfully addressed downsizing, while improving quality of service simultaneously, to an extraordinary extent. This is testimony to the professionalism and commitment of all those in the Defence Forces, their representative associations and the Department of Defence.

I am absolutely confident that the challenges in the period 2011-14 can be addressed successfully. The framework to address them will need to be sketched during 2011, in my view. For 2011 everything has been sorted out as regards the matters we discussed earlier, overseas service and so forth, and we are fortunate to have very good equipment, to the highest standard, and most of it very new. Therefore there are no requirements in that regard either this year or next, and indeed very limited ones for 2013-14 in that regard, too. Fortunately, the stores are full to an extent which means there is no challenge in that regard in the short to medium term. It is as well to bear in mind that the Defence Forces and indeed, the Department, are very well positioned.

On the specific question about civilian personnel, that is something which will have to be considered in the context of the framework of options. There will not be compulsory redundancy and in the event that vacancies arise specific decisions will have to be made to ensure that whatever challenges they may pose are addressed.

See this speech in context