Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

The Government talks about the need for stronger defence systems in this country. It spent €5 million on the National Cyber Security Centre following the attack on the HSE. In the same year, the Department of the Taoiseach spent €15 million on press statements. Three times the money was spent on press statements by one Department than all the money on the National Cyber Security Centre. The attack on the HSE has already cost €100 million and is likely to cost another €650 million. That is not to mind the thousands of people who had their health damaged or their care delayed as a result of the attack.

The Government has seen the complete collapse of the Defence Forces. We have hardly enough staff to float a ship on the high seas at the moment. Currently, the Army is at one of its lowest levels. We are spending 0.25% of our GDP on defence, which is one of the lowest in Europe. The Government is currently the biggest threat to the Irish defence system. The Government is the problem. I believe in Irish neutrality and the best way to ensure it is to properly invest in our own Defence Forces and make sure they are fit for purpose.

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