Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy Leader to organise a debate on our Defence Forces and the fact we are spending a massive amount of money on equipment and a new naval ship that we do not have enough personnel to man. We do not have enough personnel in the Naval Service to keep all our ships at sea at any one time. We do not have enough personnel to man our Air Corps aircraft. We do not have enough personnel to meet our UN requirements. That is not a situation the State should continue to tolerate. While it costs over €100,000 to train up some of the technicians and skilled personnel within the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the Army, for the price of €300 they are allowed to relinquish their contracts with the State.I am not saying that should be increased; it should be zero. They should be recruited and their terms and conditions should be such that they will not want to leave or go to private industry and that they will continue to serve the State, as their predecessors in the Defence Forces have done for so many years at home and abroad.

I ask the Deputy Leader to organise a debate on this but, at the same time, I ask that we have fewer debates and more legislation. We might look at introducing some legislative measures in respect of the Defence Forces in the Finance Bill that would allow the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to reinstate payments that were put in place for Air Corps personnel, especially pilots. Such a move would allow them to be given extra pay in light of the skills they possess. Those who possess such skills, including aeroplane and helicopter pilots, are highly sought after by private enterprise. When the Finance Bill comes before it, I ask that the House consider addressing that issue in the context of the range of personnel employed by our Defence Forces. This situation will only get worse unless a change is made by this House and by the Dáil.