Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish the gentlemen a good afternoon and thank them for appearing before the committee. I also thank for them for their comprehensive opening statements, which I have read in detail. I thank them for the great service that they provided to the State when they were in uniform and the great service that they continue to provide even in retirement. It is appreciated.

I will single out the fantastic and incredible work that is being done across the country in the vaccination centres and Covid testing facilities. It is great that the Defence Forces are still in a position to contribute. From a ceremonial point of view, the splash, colour and class when Army veterans are on parade is of note, as is their charity work.

Deputy Stanton rightly pointed out that there were approximately 13,000 military pensioners. However, I suspect there are infinitely more people who left before reaching 21 or 31 years of service. Does ONE know approximately how many military veterans there are, including veterans of the Reserve Defence Force? It strikes me that the Defence Forces are Ireland's ultimate network and a professional constituency that is worthy of respect, if the witnesses understand what I am saying. How many veterans are there? They seem to be in every town and village and up every boreen and byroad in the country.

My second question is for IUNVA. I noted from its opening statement that only €11,000 is provided to it every year, which is peanuts compared to the great service IUNVA provides. On what does it spend that €11,000? It has submitted a case for increasing the amount to €50,000. If the provision was increased to that amount, on what would it spend that money?

My final question is on the academic research on veteran-specific issues that ONE is requesting. Has ONE approached any third level institution's department of psychiatry, psychology, counselling or so on to see whether it would be interested in placing a postdoctoral student with, for example, ONE or IUNVA to examine or explore veteran-specific issues? If not and a third level institution was listening to the testimony this afternoon, would the witnesses welcome an approach about placing postdoctoral students with them?