Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Of the 394 personnel who are there at present, a total of 28 have been mandatorily selected. The military authorities have their own procedure for mandatory selection. While I am not immediately familiar with it, I can get details of it for the Deputy. I am told the system has been in place literally since the foundation of the State. However, I understand that someone who is mandatorily selected but who wishes to be excused can make representations to the appropriate personnel within the military high command.

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