Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

This is a ministerial decision for the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter. He asks the Department to come up with a proposal. Both the defence and departmental sides would work together and return to the Minister with a proposal for him to make a decision.

There was very little consultation on the decentralisation of the Department of Defence. This is a decision the Minister must make himself. He will consult the Department and Defence Forces before he makes his decision. As the Deputy will understand, the Defence Forces have the knowledge on the ground. The Minister will be open to hearing the views of all parties and none if they have proposals to make.

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