Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that detailed response. There are a lot of figures there. I will try to get my head around it. I tabled the question arising from an article by Ken Foxe, published in the Irish Independenton 1 January, in which he outlined correspondence between Jacqui McCrum, Secretary General of the Department of Defence, and presumably the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I am looking for clarity on whether the recoupment of those pay savings apply to 2022 or 2023. My understanding from the Minister's reply is that they will be applied prospectively in dealing with 2023 only, and not 2022. I emphasise that it is obvious the Defence Forces are in desperate need of funding. If approximately €30 million is taken out of the budget for 2023, perhaps we might be able to allocate that somewhere else from the outset. I will read the Minister's detailed response and may follow up with him afterwards.

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