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

Nobody is dithering and neither is anybody denying we have had significant recruitment and retention pressures in the Naval Service for many months now. We have discussed this both publicly and privately many times so let us get back to the real issue here, which is delivering a comprehensive Government decision on the back of a really good commission report that gives us an evidence base to act on. We also need to recognise we are acting in the context of a different international security environment now because of Russia's aggression in Ukraine and all that leads to. It is in that context we are trying to get this right. This is about setting a course for the Defence Forces for the next decade, not the next few months. My job is to get this right and then obviously be fully accountable to this House and the committees in taking questions around the implementation plan we will be looking to get approved by the Government. Of course I am going to be available to do that; I am looking forward to it. I hope I will get the support of this House because this is not something that should be party political. This is something that is core for the next decade in terms of the provision of security and defence infrastructure and is going to run through consecutive governments. As such, I will be very open about the basis of all the decisions we make and look forward to that process once we get a Government decision.

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