Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The agreement reached at steering group level is an important development. It is very hard to ascribe a timeframe in a situation such as this where a steering group and various sub-groups are reporting. However, the fact that it has approved a high-level organisation unit to include a line officer at the level of colonel is very important because it is central to delivering on many other concerns. The introduction of an annual medical for all Defence Forces personnel must be welcomed because one would have thought this was the case already. With regard to a peer review group and access to best practice, the links being established with the HSE, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and other bodies must be a positive move. However, I understand the frustration, if that is the right term, of Deputy O'Shea about the fact that many recommendations which appear to be required in common sense seem to take a bit longer to implement than one would hope. I will try to encourage as much progress as quickly as possible in this regard.

See this speech in context