Many of us in this House have met the wives and partners of Defence Forces personnel and the representative organisations of rank and file and commissioned officers, the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO. We have read the Defence Forces climate survey by the University of Limerick, which was published last year. Today, we read in a major story in The Irish Times that two naval vessels, the LÉ Orla and the LÉ Niamh, were unable to set sail due to crew shortages and reservists were drafted in to crew the LÉ Eithne. If we look at all of that together, the picture being painted is one in which the Defence Forces are very seriously depleted and going through a severe retention crisis, with a shortage of specialist personnel in terms of bomb disposal experts and so forth, very low morale all around and poor pay and conditions of service.

In addition, among the Defences Forces, there is a very real sense of a lack of respect and, indeed, contempt from Government towards the Defence Forces. This view is also being articulated by retired personnel who are particularly angry at what they see as a continuing dismantling of our Defence Forces, a once proud force representing our country. One former retired officer describes the relationship between the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence as "toxic, broken, dysfunctional and dangerous". The general secretary of RACO said the Defence Forces "governance and command structure is breaking down". Within the Air Corps, we are told there is a shortfall in pilots of 30%. It is clear there is a depletion among the officer ranks, with some even buying their way out of the Army. There is a critical shortage of specialist officers, from Army bomb disposal experts to aeronautical engineers and pilots.

We remember the quotes from members of the Defence Forces in the Defence Forces climate survey.

One said the Defence Forces are being turned into a JobBridge scheme. The authors spoke about private soldiers struggling to survive and depending on their parents. Others were saying they could not get a mortgage. Another said he had to live with his parents along with his wife and kids. The officers were saying that they could not help them. The only thing they can do is give the soldiers time off so they can save a day's childcare. Through all of this, the Government is in denial.

Does the Taoiseach accept that morale is very low within the Defence Forces, that the conditions of service are very poor, and that there is a retention crisis? Will he confirm the report in The Irish Times this morning regarding the inability of two vessels to set sail because of the shortage of crew?

I cannot confirm that. The Chief of Staff is compiling a report for the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, on that. I can say that the Naval Service, which has about 1,000 personnel, is at about 92% strength at the moment. The Chief of Staff will prepare a report on that for the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe.

The Government is a strong supporter of our Defence Forces. We value the role that they play, whether it is in peacekeeping overseas, acting on behalf of the State during emergencies at home, for example, natural disasters that happened last year, or providing aid to the civil power and support for the Garda when needed. We are now investing again in our Defence Forces. In contrast to what the Deputy has said, the budget for our Defence Forces increased by €25 million this year and we have a major investment programme under way in upgrading our Defence Forces after years of neglect. There is €250 million for new vessels, for example, €55 million for new armoured personnel carriers, €32 million for new aircraft, and €11 million for new armoured utilities as well as upgrades at the Curragh, Cathal Brugha, Athlone and many other barracks. We are now once again investing in our Defence Forces after years of neglect and cutbacks that happened for reasons the Deputy will understand.

PDFORRA has its conference today and the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, will attend. We as a Government will continue to engage with PDFORRA and RACO on the issues that now arise. We have a pay agreement with all public servants. That applies for three years. We are only in the first year of it. It provides for pay restoration for all public servants earning less than €40,000 by the end of this year and all public servants earning less than €70,000 by the end of 2020. For the Defence Forces, it is about a 7% pay increase as well as reversal of the 5% cuts to their allowances, which the Deputy will recall.

There is a high turnover rate. That is correct. There is about an 8% turnover rate in the Defence Forces every year and a 92% retention rate. That is not uncommon in defence forces. Being in the Defence Forces tends to be a job for younger men and women. It tends not to be a job for life. If people are not moving up the ranks, they will generally move on, often to better opportunities in the private sector, taking with them the skills they have built up. They also get early pensions in their 40s and 50s, which are set up to enable people to move on to new careers. A turnover rate of around 8% is not uncommon.

However, there has been an increase in departures in recent years. We acknowledge that as a Government. It is a change in recent years and there are particular issues around losing Defence Forces personnel with particular expertise that is now very valuable in the private sector. That was not the case during the recession but it certainly is now as we enter a period of full and high employment. The Deputy is right that there is a shortage when it comes to experts, pilots and engineers. More generally, there is an issue across the Defence Forces when it comes to 24-hour duty, for example. We have a mechanism by which we can examine that and resolve it, which is through the Public Service Pay Commission. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have made a submission to it, as have the representative organisations, PDFORRA and RACO. We will work through that with them and will have an evidence-based report from the Public Service Pay Commission which will allow us to act and to make improvements in terms and conditions over and above those agreed.

What does the Taoiseach mean he cannot confirm it? He is the Minister for Defence. He is in charge of the Army, the Navy and the Air Corps. Why can he not confirm that story? It was revealed early this morning. We have learned there was an emergency meeting on this in Haulbowline last Friday between the Chief of Staff, the assistant chief of staff and the flag officer commanding.

By the way, there was no denial this morning by the Naval Service. There was a carefully worded statement but no denial. Why can the Taoiseach not confirm this? Did he not get on the telephone? Did he not talk to the Secretary General of his Department and ask the simple question: "Is it the case that two ships could not set sail because we could not crew them?" The Taoiseach is failing and continues to fail the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces climate survey last year was a warning to everybody. This is not about departures or high turnover. That is lovely language, language that masks the reality of a critical lack of morale among members of the Defence Forces. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive response from the Government, not just parking the issue and using the Public Service Pay Commission as a way of dismissing them and saying, "Sure we know you're not going to stay too long anyway. Sure won't you all leave eventually?" What faith and respect in the Defence Forces emanate from that language? It is a proud force. People have had long careers in the Army. One can travel to locations throughout the country where families have pride in being members of the Army and serving overseas.

The Deputy is way over time.

There is a crisis. I want the Taoiseach to answer to the House. Why does he not know the answer? Why can he not confirm this morning's story? It is a serious issue if we cannot crew our naval vessels.

I cannot yet confirm it for the reason I gave the Deputy - I have not yet received the report from the Chief of Staff.

Is the Taoiseach serious?

The Minister of State has spoken to the Chief of Staff and we are awaiting a report. There can be many reasons a vessel may not be able to sail.

Two.

However, I can say there are 1,000 personnel in the Naval Service out of an establishment figure of 1,094.

Can the Taoiseach confirm that the story is true?

Therefore, the Naval Service is at 92% strength. There are many reasons a vessel may not be able to sail.

The lack of staff is one.

However, I can confirm that the Naval Service has been able to fulfil all of its duties in fisheries protection and interdiction, as well as its other duties, during the period.

What did he say to the Minister of State?

No. We cannot return to the matter.

Is it a "Yes" or a "No"? Is this morning's story true? Can the Minister of State not confirm it?