Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister clarify, if the medical service is adequate and he is satisfied with it, why 135,000 sick days were taken last year by just 20% of Defence Forces personnel? Does the Minister agree this is, in most cases, because of the absence of a proper and well-resourced medical corps for the Defence Forces? A soldier on sick leave may have to wait for weeks, or months in some cases, before he or she can access the medical board to certify fitness to return to service. I point out to the Minister that, as reported recently in the newspapers, these sick days are confined to approximately 20% of the Defence Forces.

This is a major issue. I am aware the Minister has appointed consultants whose report we have been awaiting for approximately a year. It is amazing they are taking so long to come up with recommendations. This looks bad for the Army and the Defence Forces. It is unfair that those people who want to return to work cannot, in many cases, get treatment or clearance from the medical board. The Minister may not be aware that a member of the medical board cannot have seen or treated any of these people previously or he or she is ruled out of being on the board.

Is the Minister aware or concerned about this problem? Apart from waiting for the consultants' report, what is he going to do about it?

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