Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach made the same comment last week about recruiting so many applicants notwithstanding the terms and conditions in place. He is in denial as, it appears, is the Government about the crisis. This is not just about Lansdowne Road. I compare what the Taoiseach just said with what Army personnel are saying. There are high rates of mental health issues in the Defence Forces and more than half of members have a second job just to be able to make do.

An Army private soldier is cited as saying, "I have to live with my parents along with my wife and kids." One member said, "Stress is being caused by geographical and financial issues." Another said, "I am driving from Cavan and in mortgage arrears. I am double jobbing and doing the job of CO's." The report cites another as saying, "We are commuting from XXX to XXX every day, that's ... €120 on diesel a week." I do not know if the Taoiseach has read the entirety of the report - he may not have - but it is quite shocking in terms of what it is revealing about the very low morale in our Defence Forces and the sense of crisis - not difficulties - about retention. This is at all levels and not confined to specialists or specific types of jobs. The turnover is across all levels. As I said earlier, it relates in particular to privates who are leaving within a short space of time.

The wives and partners who came to see me about three or four weeks ago did not need this survey.

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