Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hope I will not take that long.

Five Members of the House, Senators Ardagh, Conway-Walsh, Humphreys, Horkan and Gavan, raised the issue of Brexit. As we will have the debate later in the day, I would rather not add to that. I will just say that the advice of the UK Attorney General has been noted by everybody. He said that the legal risk remained but that what was agreed last night was an improvement. I hope our colleagues in Westminster will have the political courage to accept the deal to ensure we will not have a hard Brexit and that we will not have a hard border on this island. I certainly hope that can take place today. I am also cognisant that the withdrawal agreement has not been rewritten and that the backstop remains, albeit temporarily.

Senator Ardagh raised last night's programme on fertility. I commend Dearbhail McDonald on her bravery, courage and honesty in speaking on the issue. I would be happy for the Minister to come to the House to debate the matter post the break.On the issue of Garda resources, this Government reopened Templemore and increased resources to the Garda. Unfortunately, or fortunately if one prefers, the operational matter of the allocation of superintendents and chief superintendents is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and the Crumlin Garda area is not a matter for me or the House to discuss.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of the payment offer by the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan. The information I have for my learned friend and colleague is that the Minister of State has asked that the scheme be open to all candidates so they can avail of it. On the point the Senator made in regard to the Defence Forces, we had the debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, in the past couple of weeks and we will have him back in the House soon. It is important that we recognise the importance of the work the members of the Defence Forces perform. We can sometimes get into a spiral of talking down our Defence Forces. Senator Craughwell pre-empted some of my reply to him. To be fair to him and Senator McFadden, who have repeatedly raised the matter in the House, the number of personnel in the Defence Forces stands at 94% of its planned strength, notwithstanding the issue of pay. I fully accept the point made by Senator Craughwell that there is a need to do more for the Defence Forces, and the Public Sector Pay Commission is sitting to deal with this. The number of personnel on family income supplement is approximately 1% of the Defence Forces strength, or 90 people, although I accept it is 90 too many. We must work to ensure the strength of the Defence Fores is maintained and, equally, that there is promotion and retention and people see the unique and demanding positions they fill are ones in which there can be a lifelong career. I will be happy to bring the Minister of State back to the House regarding the matter raised.