Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I wish to make a few observations. The Government's response document and high-level action plan to the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces commits the Government, over the years 2022 to 2028, to increase the expenditure on defence to €1.5 billion. Currently, it is €1.107 billion.We are, in effect, dealing with a commitment to increase expenditure by €393 million over six years or €65 million per annum.