Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach: two minutes and one subject. Yesterday's budget announced for the defence sector €176 million for capital funding, with €12 million for the recruitment of 400 additional members of the Defence Forces. I am really confused about this. They talk about a net increase of 400 members. Is this a net increase from the number that exists today? Is it a net increase from the 9,500 or is it a net increase from the 11,500? I am really very confused. The Government is putting €12 million into it but there is no clarity whatsoever. If nothing else, the short piece that was the defence budget yesterday, as announced by the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, brought home to me the need for an oversight committee for intelligence and security in the State. We currently have a committee dealing with defence and foreign affairs but I believe the area of defence, security and intelligence needs its own committee. I ask the Leader to take this to her own party. Perhaps members of the other parties would think likewise. Ireland has the only Parliament, that I know of, that does not have an intelligence and security oversight committee. I ask the Leader to do that.