Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will be aware that I quoted the Brigadier General's comments at the last meeting of the Joint Committee of European Affairs. I agree with Deputy Barrett. I also agreed with a number of members at the European Foreign Affairs Council that the battle group should be utilised to assist in disasters such as occurred in Haiti. This would be a good demonstration of the importance and relevance of battle groups and justification for the background work that goes into their formation, training and so on. There is no disagreement on this issue.

See this speech in context