Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious as Chair that we have not yet reached conclusions at this meeting. I detect among members' dissatisfaction not only in respect of today's submission but the fact this is not the first time that similar submissions have been made to the committee. I am open to proposals. I propose that immediately following this meeting we forward today's submission directly to the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and that we seek a specific response to the issues raised in the submission, to be given to the committee on or before 1 September, and that we arrange in September a specific meeting with the Minister for Defence and the Chief of Staff in the context of the reply that we expect to receive.

I regard it as totally unsatisfactory for a communication to be sent from this organisation to the Secretary General of the Department of Defence on 11 May and two months later it has not even been acknowledged. I propose that we specifically contact the Secretary General of the Department tomorrow on this precise issue and seek an immediate response from her.