Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Deputy O'Shea expressed the urgency of this matter, of which I am aware. My Department is represented on the steering and progress groups. I will keep in touch with staff of both groups. The Army medical service, developed in the 1930s and 1940s and perhaps suitable for the prevailing situation then, has not kept pace with change. I agree there is non-alignment between the strategy of the medical corps and that of the Defence Forces. We must, therefore, bring them into line. The current service is demand driven and we need a strategy driven medical service. That is the reality of the situation. It is what we must achieve. The Deputy can rest assured I will keep in close touch with the steering group in this regard.

On Deputy Deenihan's suggestion in regard to a GP training course and inviting the steering group to address the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, I will discuss both issues with my officials. The current number of doctors is 24, one third of whom are non-national. I will check the figure for the number of nurses and communicate the information to the Deputy.

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