Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join in commending members of An Garda Síochána, our Defence Forces, the Naval Service and the Army Ranger Wing on the successful operation off our coast yesterday. It demonstrates the need to invest in Naval Service capacity and in the wider Defence Forces. The truth is that our Naval Service cannot monitor our seas effectively and this is due to decades of under-investment. At present, only two Naval Service vessels can be put to sea at any one time due to staffing shortages and that, in turn, is because despite all of the commendations regularly made, the reality is personnel are not paid properly and their terms and conditions are, in many cases, appalling.

There are fewer Defence Forces personnel today than at any time in the history of the State and the situation worsens on the Taoiseach's watch. An Oireachtas committee heard yesterday that more members will leave the Defence Forces this year than will be recruited.

What is the plan? Where is the urgency? When will we see the resources, the recruitment and the retention necessary to keep the State, the country and our people safe?

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