Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Let me move on to the independent review group's report on the Defence Forces. I suppose in its politest form it showed that there was a kind of tough-man approach within the organisation and that this strong or macho kind of culture was too prevalent. Ms McCrum might have a different view but that was the view in general terms. I would like for a moment to consider families and people with a child who has a disability. We deal with this issue all the time. It must be incredibly difficult for a family who has a child with a disability when a family member in the Defence Forces is asked to serve abroad given the additional pressures this places on the family and the individual in question. Is there a specific policy with regard to members of the Defence Forces and their family responsibilities in general, one that is cognisant of issues of disability?