Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would be delighted to meet him at any time. In the context of all these issues, I have never been approached in the past 23 years by anybody in the organisation despite the fact that I am the person who set out in great detail the causes, patterns and outcomes of this violence, as well as the solutions. All the Defence Forces have to do is talk to me. That is why I take great comfort in Lieutenant General Clancy's words. Jacqui McCrum was the first person in the Department of Defence to speak to me in 23 years and Lieutenant General Clancy is the first Chief of Staff, with the exception of Vice Admiral Mellett, to indicate he is happy to speak to me. That is a positive development. It is a watershed moment for the organisation and I only wish to be constructive and helpful but I have a family and we have endured a great deal of highly targeted reprisal. I have no doubt that when the Chief of Staff and I have that conversation, we should have a productive exchange. I thank him for his words and I await his initiation.