Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is very important. Are we dependent on outsourced maintenance and that keeps our helicopters on the ground? Effectively, that runs the risk of life and limb of the personnel doing the job so badly required of controlling our waters from a drugs perspective. That particular incident yielded more than €6 million worth of drugs - it was actually €600 million, if I am not mistaken. The reality is something is very wrong as to why there is such an issue with retention within the Defence Forces. I do not believe there is an issue within the Department but within the Defence Forces front-line personnel. A level of 7,500 staff with recommendations for 11,500 is not good enough. I will come back to the pay scales. How can we expect an improvement if this seems to be, from what I hear, the real issue? Are our Defence Forces being exploited? Has Ms McCrum been in, cap in hand, to the Department to improve this situation?