Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To compare it with other Votes, the defence group expenditure ceiling was increased by 5.07%, while the education and skills group expenditure ceiling increased by 4.9%, the health group expenditure ceiling by 6.2% and the justice group expenditure ceiling by 5.9%. That confirms that the increase in the defence Vote was comparable with the increases in other Votes. The Deputy says I am a Scrooge when it comes to negotiating a budget for the Department of Defence. Since I was appointed to the Department, the budget has increased year on year. The Deputy has an internal document. It is quite worrying that it has been leaked from the Defence Forces, which it is presumed are secure. I am disappointed that an internal document has been released into the public domain. There was an increase of €48 million, or 5.07%, in the 2018 gross expenditure ceiling. I am quoting from the same document the Deputy has in his possession.

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