Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree that the Irish Defence Forces do an absolutely outstanding job and I have been assured by the Chief of Staff that they have the capabilities to carry out any duty or mission that may be required of them. I refute the suggestion that the Government is not committed to bringing people into the Irish Defence Forces. I attended the induction of Army cadets yesterday in the Curragh and, in total, almost 100 cadets will start in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service this year, the highest number in the history of the State. We have a general intake of privates and enlisted personnel and I believe we will be close to 9,500 at the end of the year.

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