Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

These people value their position and status. Just to have their service valued in the same way as the people going to Chad, the extra €150 that they earn above what they would earn in other sections of the Army may not be a sufficient incentive for people to join the rangers. Obviously they are more exposed to injury. If they get injured in their duties for the Army ranger wing, they are likely to be discharged from the Army, as they would not meet the medical requirements to rejoin mainstream Army activities. I ask the Minister to consider increasing the allowance for membership of the wing and to consider the issue of being discharged from the Army following a serious injury because of the stricter requirements in mainstream defence activities in the country now.

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