Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A comment from a 2011 interview struck me when he said writers should not feel obliged to explain and things should be left to the reader. He did that in his work. I pay tribute to him and sympathise with his family on his death.

Senators Craughwell and Wilson raised the matter of the Defence Forces, which is very important. The Minister of State has committed to coming to the House and he is in Lebanon today, as Senators know. To be fair, the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, has responsibility for this and he sits at the Cabinet. He is willing to come to the House to discuss the matters raised. As Members know, the Government has begun recruitment to the Defence Forces and over 600 positions have been advertised this year. The budget has been increased by €10 million for 2017 and we have seen capital infrastructural expenditure in a number of barracks across the country, along with Haulbowline in my constituency. I am sure we welcome that.