Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I wish PDFORRA would bring these allegations to my attention. I read about this in the newspaper but even though I frequently meet individual members of PDFORRA — I will meet them at the national conference next week — nobody has brought this matter directly to my attention. I say that as a matter of certainty. I see no evidence of it. If something like that is happening, there are plenty of redress mechanisms within the Army, up to and including a statutorily independent ombudsman.

If people want to make a complaint there is a whole raft of internal mechanisms available rather than for them to complain in the manner outlined by the Deputy. I will meet PDFORRA next week in a formal capacity and if anybody wishes to bring any matter to my attention, he or she may do so in either a formal or informal way at a meeting. They are more than welcome to do this.

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