Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I have no problem with the height requirement and the medical test. I would like to comment on the third ground of unsuitability, however. I understand that the Army will deem one to be unsuitable if it learns that one got into trouble with the law in a minor way when one was in one's teens, even if one's minor infringement would not give rise to any security concerns. Are there any proposals to re-examine what constitutes unsuitability on the basis of security matters? We should ensure that this provision is not all-encompassing in a general way. People who were vulnerable at a particular time and came to the attention of the Garda on foot of a minor infringement should be reassessed in consultation with the local Garda station.

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