Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My recollection is that a ministerial colleague from one of the smaller EU states holds both portfolios. I will inform the Deputy in writing. I am thinking of two states and I do not want to be mistaken.

I note with interest that the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Niall Collins, keeps complaining that we recruited 600 new members of the Defence Forces during 2012. It seems to be a regular cause of complaint on his part, with him suggesting we should recruit for the Garda Síochána and not the Defence Forces. It is worth noting that Deputy Ó Fearghaíl never complains about recruitment into the Defence Forces. It might be a good idea for the Deputies to discuss that issue with each other so they can coordinate an approach that does not suggest we should stop recruitment into the Defence Forces or that it is a legitimate criticism of my occupying this office that we brought Defence Forces numbers back up to 9,500 rather than letting them fall well into the 8,000s as a consequence of Fianna Fáil failing to recruit in the years prior to my appointment.

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