Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Last week we discussed the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and paid tribute to the work of the Defence Forces on peacekeeping missions abroad. In the past week we have seen the Trojan efforts of the Army to help the victims of the flooding. The numbers in the Defence Forces are below 10,000, the lowest in over four decades. Will the Deputy Leader invite the Minister for Defence to come into the House to explain whether he intends to increase numbers in the Defence Forces? Has he sought funding from the Minister for Finance for recruitment to the Defence Forces? This week he announced 50 long overdue promotions, but it is necessary to increase numbers in the Defence Forces.

In recent weeks we have asked for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come into the House to discuss not only murders and attacks on elderly people and the overcrowding in our prisons, but we have not seen him. Will the Deputy Leader arrange for him to come here to account for the deplorable efforts of his Department because the Government seems to be soft on crime and law and order?