Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will follow up in the same vein as Deputy Stanton. We attracted 17,000 applicants to the various facets of the Defence Forces last year. That said, the number of Naval Service personnel has dropped below 700, which is almost 400 off the Department's target. The Tánaiste acknowledged in an earlier contribution that current labour market factors are not helping. I think he said many capable recruits are being poached by other sectors. That is understandable as many of them are highly desirable candidates.

Regarding the working time directive, I believe the Tánaiste stated earlier that he has given an instruction to his Department on the implementation of the working time directive. Will he clarify what he means by the reference to that instruction? Is it to comply fully with the rules that are there or is it to perhaps come up another version, which would also be acceptable, because obviously there are exemptions under EU regulations in that regard? Does the instruction relate to the full implementation of the directive or is it another version of it?

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