Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

By 30 September 2004, a total of 16,726 claims had been received in my Department from current and former members of the Defence Forces in respect of loss of hearing allegedly caused during their military service. A total of 333 claims have been determined in court and 15,060 have been disposed of out of court, mainly through settlement, leaving a total of 1,333 claims outstanding at that date. The sum of €277.3 million has been paid in respect of hearing loss claims, including €93.3 million in plaintiffs' legal costs.

See this speech in context