Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Defence Forces have available to them equipment for monitoring and protecting their members in dealing with nuclear, biological or chemical, NBC, threats identified from time to time. They hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment that meets their current requirements, which includes approximately 9,500 NBC suits. The NBC suits are not a personal issue and are retained in stores throughout the Defence Forces. Should an operational scenario arise, the NBC suits would be distributed as required to all personnel involved. In addition, the suits are allocated to all brigades and the Defence Forces training centre as required for training purposes.

The Defence Forces have a sufficient stock of respirators for each soldier. They also have 98 of the most technologically up-to-date chemical agent monitors and Defence Forces personnel have been trained on their operation. Other equipment on hands includes biological agent detector and screening kits, group decontamination equipment and personal decontamination equipment. The requirement for additional NBC equipment is kept under continual review by the Defence Forces. A programme for the purchase of NBC equipment is ongoing and whatever equipment deemed necessary is purchased expeditiously to meet the changing requirements.

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