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

The process is meaningful. It is important not to say people will be rendered unemployable because many members of the Defence Forces leave on retirement with particular niche skills that make them readily employable. Even in a difficult jobs market, they are able to obtain employment, although I accept that does not apply to everybody and no one should pretend that it does. The process is meaningful, as it must be. However, the Deputy cannot have it every way. He cannot say, on the one hand, say we do not want a "Dad's Army" and, on the other, that we should allow all members to remain until they reach the age of 55 or 60 years. We must have a defence force that has the capabilities its requires. Given the objective of having a force with a strength of 9,500, when members of the Defence Forces retire, this allows for the recruitment of new members. As I have said previously in the House, approximately 400 new recruits will join the Defence Forces this year. This number is based on retirements. There are job opportunities for young people in joining the Defence Forces when members retire. This is a meaningful process, not an engagement for a declaration or in a charade, and I hope it will produce an outcome within the coming weeks. However, I cannot pre-empt its outcome.

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