Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the total number of officers and other ranks serving overseas? Deputies discussed threat assessment, injuries and so forth in response to one of my previous questions. Will the Minister indicate the number of personnel serving overseas in support services, specifically the medical corps? Will he also provide a breakdown according to profession? How many doctors, dentists, paramedics and other support personnel are serving overseas? Are difficulties being experienced in recruiting any of these personnel, particularly in dentistry?

This week, I read with interest a report in one of the newspapers that Sweden, the framework nation in the Nordic battle group, has reservations about Ireland's requirement to secure triple lock approval. Did the Minister see the report and will he comment on it? Will he also comment on Ireland's proposed role as the framework nation in KFOR?

The Minister may also wish to comment on calls made for him to sign up. I do not refer to signing up in the Defence Forces but in response to his excellent presentation on——

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