Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. When one sees that the UN peacekeeping operations have involved 70,000 tours of duty it puts into perspective the amount of involvement that Ireland has had over the years and that pride, which is very welcome to see written about. I hope all of that translates to the much earned yet outstanding medals for A Company of the 35th Battalion of Jadotville.

That Acting Brigadier General Maureen O'Brien has been made acting first commander is a very significant event that deserves recognition. I hope that many more women will follow in her footsteps and will match, if not exceed, her achievements.

The Minister has spoken at length about Mali. His statement includes the following sentence, which sits uneasily with me but maybe that is due to the arrangement of words: "The mission aims include reforming the chain of command in areas of training, logistics and military policy to ensure obedience." Can he elaborate on what that may be, please?