Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am more than aware of the recruitment and retention challenges across the Defence Forces and we are acting on those. I launched a recruitment campaign specifically targeting potential Naval Service recruits in Haulbowline in June. To date, 78 new personnel have been inducted, including 65 recruits, eight cadets, three direct entry specialists and two rejoined listed personnel. I am not saying that solves the problem because it does not. This is going to take time. One of the big tasks of the Commission on the Defence Forces is to focus on recruitment, retention and numbers across the Defence Forces. I look forward to debating its report. I expect it to be very detailed. We will hopefully dedicate significant time in this House to developing the full detail of that report, probably in January as I will likely get a finalised version in late December.

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