It is no surprise that today I want to talk about the Defence Forces. In particular, I want to talk about the adjudication of 27 September 2010. We ask representative bodies to go to adjudication to resolve issues that exist within an organisation. The Defence Forces is suffering recruitment and retention issues. That adjudication of 2010 awarded the Army Ranger Wing and those who cook, the chefs, in the Defence Forces an increase in pay backdated to 1 June 2006. Surely it is time for the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to be re-amalgamated into the Department of Finance. What is the point of having an adjudication if the Department of public expenditure is going to step in and say "No"?

I know this is right across the House and across all political parties. The long arm of the Department of public expenditure is reaching into every corner within the public service. Surely to God if the Department of Defence is agreeable under adjudication to give an award, it should be given and there should be no further discussion about it. It is time to get rid of the Department of public expenditure, amalgamate the two under one Minister and leave us one senior Minister who can take over the Department of Defence and can see to it that we have a proper defence Department. Coming from a garrison town, as the Leader does, I know the Leader will want to bring the Minister for Defence in here and have a discussion on this.

It is outrageous. These men, the Army Ranger Wing, are the people you put on the front line every time there is a crisis, and I mean a dangerous crisis. If the Leader could organise a debate on that I would really appreciate it.