Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I accept that it is not a question of people being on duty. I was merely making the point that the Defence Forces do not ignore the fact that people might be pregnant.

I take the Deputy's point that Defence Forces personnel want to feel as comfortable as possible. The uniform was last redesigned in the mid-1990s. If improvements can be made - and in light of developments in the interim - I will be very disposed to accepting the recommendation when I receive it. I have asked the working group to report as quickly as possible.

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