Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. One of the central challenges, which is well understood and which Deputy Berry talked about, concerns medical officers. We are in an economy close to full employment and there are working terms and conditions elsewhere, such as being able to go home at 5 p.m., which make the Defence Forces less attractive.

The Minister rightly acknowledged that the numbers have changed and travel is in the wrong direction. My numbers have it that we are at 8,100 personnel in the Defence Forces, the lowest in 15 years. While we are recruiting a total intake of 150, we have lost 375. By losing those people, we lose the skills and experience they have acquired over the years. Serious work is needed to turn that ship around.

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