Last week I called on the Leader to arrange a debate on the Defence Forces' preparedness for Brexit. Two days later I attended the conference of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, in Cork. The Defence Forces are in a state of crisis. We heard in Cork about a soldier on parade who wore a non-issued pair of boots. He had to buy them himself because he could not get a pair of boots issued from the central clothing store. There are large stocks of uniforms held in central clothing, but they might be the wrong size or whatever else. This soldier was not able to get a pair of boots. We also heard about soldiers who were unable to get clothing when they needed it. The climate survey carried out for the Defence Forces shows an appalling situation. On top of this, the attrition rates for commissioned officers are at crisis level. Listening to the radio one morning, I heard that the career choice for a commissioned officer above the rank of captain was a move to Aldi. We are talking about the people who defend the country and represent it with honour on behalf of the United Nations which they have been doing since the late 1950s, yet these young men and women are unable to get clothing. Young officers who go through their training at the Curragh and are a credit to the country have no career trajectory or options ahead of them. It is time this House held a long debate-----

I apologise for interrupting but somebody's phone is interfering with the microphones. That is not very helpful.

It might be mine because it controls my hearing aid. I am sorry.

The House must have a debate on the Defence Forces with the Minister. It is a crisis. The Defence Forces are below strength and that cannot continue. They have no voice, aside from that of their representative bodies. They have nobody to speak for them and there is no industrial relations process open to them other, than through their representative bodies. As a former proud member of the 1st Infantry Battalion in Galway, I would like to have the opportunity to voice some of their concerns. I ask the Leader to organise that debate as quickly as possible.