Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The key point is that our seven personnel are not involved in combat. They serve in the headquarters where they provide services and information relating to the improvised explosive devices. All our army personnel are professional soldiers. They are military personnel and are effectively equipped to deal with their jobs as soldiers in whatever capacity they serve. Notwithstanding whatever else happens, any soldiers serving overseas on behalf of the Irish nation are not sent willy nilly. They are sent on UN mandated peace missions. Our soldiers in Afghanistan are not attacking anyone. They are keeping the peace.

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