Dáil debates

Thursday, 16 November 2006

4:00 pm

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Ireland currently has 826 troops serving overseas. This figure consists of 168 officers and 658 non-officers. I understand five doctors are currently deployed overseas. While I do not have figures on the number of dentists, I understand none is serving overseas. The answer to the Deputy's question on whether we are having difficulty recruiting a sufficient number of doctors is an unequivocal "Yes". I will deal with this matter in some detail in a later question.

On Sweden's reported reservations about Ireland's triple lock requirement, I read the report and do not agree with it. I have not received queries from Sweden in this regard and, in any case, they would not matter because we must operate the triple lock mechanism under the law which states we cannot deploy personnel abroad without it.

On acting as framework nation in Kosovo from August 2007, this new responsibility will contribute significantly to the development of the Defence Forces, improving their capability and heightening their profile as a professional, well organised force in the international peacekeeping community. This is the reason Ireland will assume the role, which will require the deployment of an additional 50 to 60 personnel for a short period.

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