Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

In answer to a question tabled on 24 February, the then Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Pat Carey, told us it was planned that the new centralised medical corps would be established prior to the end of the year. In his response today, the Minister was not as definitive as that with regard to when the corps will be established. It seems the date is moving back. In essence, many processes are under consideration at present and some have been put in place to some degree. Is there any improvement, even at this stage, in the provision of medical services within the Defence Forces? Realistically, when does the Minister consider that we will see major and worthwhile improvements to a situation described in the not too distant past as being a shambles?

See this speech in context