Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I wish our Defence Forces personnel, and particularly those who are serving overseas in UN missions, best wishes for the season and a safe and happy 2012. In the context of our financial circumstances and the need to make every penny count, is there a way of avoiding the situation whereby debts incurred in 2006 are still outstanding so that the moneys owed to us by the UN are paid to us in a timely manner? The Minister of State noted that part of the money owned on one mission is subject to an ongoing dispute. Are these payment issues not agreed prior to the deployment of personnel?

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