Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Deenihan asked if I was satisfied the current service is adequate. A number of issues are involved. First, it is adequate. Any soldier who needs primary care will get it. I agree there is a shortage of doctors in the Army, but we have an arrangement, as the Deputy will be aware, with civilian doctors who step into the breach. That has been the established position for many years. I reiterate that any soldier who needs immediate medical treatment will receive it within the same timescale available to any other person in the country.

I agree there were 135,000 sick days last year. This works out at approximately 12.99 sick days per individual. My advice is that while this is a large number it is not wildly out of line with the rest of the public sector. This gives me some satisfaction because the nature of military duties means that a minor injury which might not prevent somebody from working in an office might prevent him or her from undertaking military duties in view of the consequent risk. While a total of 12.99 sick days per person is not grossly out of line with the rest of the public sector, nevertheless there is room for improvement and I take this point.

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