I join in commending members of An Garda Síochána, our Defence Forces, the Naval Service and the Army Ranger Wing on the successful operation off our coast yesterday. It demonstrates the need to invest in Naval Service capacity and in the wider Defence Forces. The truth is that our Naval Service cannot monitor our seas effectively and this is due to decades of under-investment. At present, only two Naval Service vessels can be put to sea at any one time due to staffing shortages and that, in turn, is because despite all of the commendations regularly made, the reality is personnel are not paid properly and their terms and conditions are, in many cases, appalling.

There are fewer Defence Forces personnel today than at any time in the history of the State and the situation worsens on the Taoiseach's watch. An Oireachtas committee heard yesterday that more members will leave the Defence Forces this year than will be recruited.

What is the plan? Where is the urgency? When will we see the resources, the recruitment and the retention necessary to keep the State, the country and our people safe?

I thank the Deputy. I want to join everyone in this House in thanking and commending the members of the joint task force, including An Garda Síochána, Revenue, the customs service and the Naval Service, which in co-operation with the Air Corps and the Army Ranger Wing successfully intercepted a major shipment of controlled drugs at sea yesterday in very challenging conditions. The operation resulted in the detention of a bulk cargo vessel originating from Latin America with a significant volume of illegal drugs on board, which would no doubt have been destined for the Irish and European markets. This will represent a serious blow to organised crime gangs and it shows that Ireland and its waters are guarded and protected. I also want to acknowledge partners internationally such as the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre - Narcotics, which is based in Lisbon, the UK National Crime Agency, the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the French customs service. We have record levels of investment in the Defence Forces. It is well over €1 billion a year. We have a huge investment commitment under way. When it comes to pay, I do not think it is all about pay. The Deputy can do the international benchmarking if she wishes. Pay for our Defence Forces compares very favourably with the UK or the US, even when an adjustment is made for the cost of living. There are many more issues at stake when it comes to the problem of recruitment in the Defence Forces than pay alone.