Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----the same parties who want to undermine our neutrality have overseen the systemic underfunding of our Defence Forces, bringing us to the position we are in where there are only about 7,600 members across all sections of the Defence Forces. That is against an establishment need of 9,500 members and a level of ambition 2 target of 11,500. The Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces also set out the capital investment our Defence Forces needed. It said we needed capital investment of €246.5 million each year for the past ten years. Last year that target was missed by €70 million and next year that target is again going to be missed by €70 million, yet Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael laughably suggest it is others that cannot be trusted with Ireland's security.

I will respond to the proposals set out by the Tánaiste in respect of undoing the triple lock. He mentioned of course the veto at the UN Security Council. He did not refer to the triple lock also allowing for a UN General Assembly mandate to be provided-----

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