Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I am appalled at Deputy Timmins's suggestion that the Minister should make all such decisions alone without being bound by the triple lock. Until recently I was my party's spokesperson for the remit of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and I would be appalled at the thought of the Minister in charge, Deputy McDowell, not having to refer back to the Government before he sent troops abroad in the form of battle groups, peacekeepers, peacemakers or anything else. The mind boggles when one considers the absence of the triple lock under such circumstances.

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