Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not aware of a ship not being able to go to sea because of an issue associated with engineering personnel. There are vacancies at present for officers. I will revert to the Deputy with the exact number. We have the biggest cadet class, including members of the Air Corps, Naval Service and the Army. One hundred personnel in the junior cadet class started in September 2016. This will address a number of the issues associated with officers. This shows the commitment of the Government regarding the officer corps within the Defence Forces.

The Deputy referred to Brexit and the Border. That will be a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Francis Fitzgerald. Where there is a call to aid the civil power, it will be matter for the Department of Justice and Equality to assess the circumstances after Brexit.

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