Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

The need for the Defence Forces to encourage recruitment among non-nationals is urgent. The Minister has not given us any idea of what efforts are being made to do that. The efforts in this regard by the Defence Forces must be contrasted with those of the Garda Síochána, which has a make-up that is much more representative of modern Ireland. There is an obligation on the Defence Forces to follow suit. Will the Minister therefore increase the embryonic diversification campaign that has begun to make the Defence Forces much more ethnically representative? What practical steps is he taking in that regard.

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