Dr. Cathal Berry:

The Deputy asks an excellent question. An ultraconservative interpretation of the law is what limited the deployment to Kabul to 12 personnel. Legally, there is absolutely no impediment. We could have sent 100 if we wanted to but it was limited to 12 because that was the interpretation of whoever interpreted the law as it stood. The Deputy is 100% right in his assertion, as was Senator Clonan. For those eight exemptions and the additional three, there is no ceiling. The only limit that exists is logistical and the numerical strength of the Defence Forces.