Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is certainly strong demand for the recruitment calls that are under way at present. In fact, I have received letters from various Deputies making cases for people who have applied and so on. There seems to be strong demand for that, despite the fact there are issues in need of review in regard to remuneration and pay.

In terms of equipment, I am satisfied we have adequate and appropriate levels of equipment and we are investing in new equipment all the time. As the Deputy will know, for example, the big expenditure in the Naval Service has been on new ships, which means there will be three new ships in three years. I cannot ever remember a time when that has happened before, and it is happening at a time when the Government is under a lot of financial pressure. We have already seen the LE Samuel Beckett, next year we will see the LE James Joyceand we will see a third ship 12 months later. Likewise, there are investment programmes for the Army and Air Corps. I am satisfied that we are investing in the Defence Forces.

With regard to the overall situation, as it happens, the Defence Forces have been looking at themselves. We have had an outside person who is eminently qualified looking at issues like morale, bullying and reporting channels and support systems for personnel within the Defence Forces.

See this speech in context