Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like many others, I welcome the decision by PDFORRA to accept the miserly offer that was on the table. They had no choice but to accept it but that is not going to stem the tide that has occurred under the Minister of State's watch of those who are leaving the Defence Forces in droves, especially those with specific skills. I have asked on a number of occasions about the explosive ordnance disposal units and the Minister of State has said it is "inappropriate for [him] to comment on the disposition and specifics" of it. I am not trying to gain a State secret in questions I have put to the Minister of State about capacity. That capacity is so low now that men within the section are having duties of nearly 80 hours on a regular basis. What specific actions are being taken to ensure that the navy, the Air Corps, the likes of the military police and in particular the specialist units which require immediate support can be retained? What specific actions is the Minister of State going to take to ensure there are no more losses of men and women from those sections to the private sector, which is very glad of the expertise that is being offered because people cannot sustain their employment?

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