Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister quite rightly urged the Commission on the Defence Forces to be ambitious in its recommendations, and I urge him now to be ambitious in the implementation. There is virtually unanimous cross-party support for this. I have not heard a single dissenting voice in the Chamber on the issues of improving pay for our troops, increasing the number of personnel and improving the infrastructure and premises throughout the Defence Forces. I urge the Minister to capitalise on that common ground and that consensus. This is a golden opportunity to finally fix defence and to restore the pride of a once-proud Óglaigh na hÉireann.

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