The Defence Forces are having to Google job applicants because the Garda vetting process is too slow.

It means new troops are trained in explosives, advanced weaponry and tactics before it is known whether or not they have a criminal record or connections to criminal gangs.

Basic training time has also been reduced in a bid to reverse the falling numbers of Defence Forces personnel.

Brendan Smith is the Chairman of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee:

“We know that there are undesirables out there,” he said. “There was an effort at one stage in the 1970s for some undesirables to get into the FCA as it was at the time.”

“We don’t want any weakness in the recruitment of the permanent defence forces that could be exploited by paramilitary groups or other thugs and criminals.”

A 30% turnover in members over the past five years has led to a significant loss of knowledge and experience within the Defence Forces ranks.

The government has committed to recruiting 1,600 new members over the next two years in an effort to build the force back up to its “establishment strength” of approximately 9,500.