Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will turn to Mr. Power. In his statement, he quoted Taoiseach Seán Lemass back in the sixties telling the Dáil, when dealing with the Defence (Amendment) Act 1960, the following:

The purpose of the present measure may be simple. Its purpose is to authorise ... for duties of a police character on behalf of the United Nations and, secondly, to provide in respect of ... members of the Defence Forces ... [that they] may volunteer in overseas [missions]...

I do not understand. You cannot volunteer. Once you join the Defence Forces, you are in. Am I correct in that? When you join the Defence Forces, if you are told you are going to Lebanon or something else, you are going and that is it.