Mr. Kieran Brennan:

I support the comments that were made by Mr. Campbell in respect of the office of veteran affairs, as well as the need for having a veterans strategy underpinned by policies in exactly the same format as Mr. Campbell articulated. It is important because it also would institutionalise veterans as an important part of Irish society. At present, a veteran leaves the Defence Forces who might go out after a full career, like myself, or alternatively might go into a civilian employment. They just go back into society. A veterans’ association and a veterans' office would be hugely important.

Deputies Brady and Stanton spoke about issues in relation to supports available to personnel leaving the Defence Forces. By way of explanation, in my last appointment in the Defence Forces, one of my key areas of interest was on how can we best support people who leave the Defence Forces either early or at the end of their careers. We instituted a policy of continuous professional development in the Defence Forces, which I have no doubt is continuing. It allowed people to develop the skill sets that were easily translatable out in civilian life. To explain exactly what that means, we linked up with the Institute of Technology Carlow, which allowed for non-commissioned officers and private soldiers to acquire skill sets that were associated with levels of competence in the university sector. For example, people could have a level 6, level 7 or level 8 degree coming out of Institute of Technology Carlow, which included a recognition of their prior learning, plus associated work that they did in Carlow. My good colleague who is present, Mr. Murray, is a product of that. There certainly are supports for people to develop skill sets and have them recognised when they go out into civilian life. Of course, as people leave the Defence Forces, there is a retirement course conducted which gives them information on how best to deal with some of the issues they will face as they go into civilian life. As I said, that is where it was up to recently. I presume that it is still continuing. Would Mr. Campbell like to add anything to that, because I know he was involved in this process as well?