Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. Some 12 or 13 years will have elapsed from the publication of the last White Paper on Defence to the publication of the new White Paper and yet in the past 12 months significant changes have taken place in the Defence Forces. There has been a move from a three-group to a two-group brigade structure, the abolition of the command at Custume Barracks in Athlone and a restructuring of the Reserve Defence Forces. In tandem with those changes a significantly increased threat has been posed by dissident republicans on both sides of the Border and they have been engaged in far greater activity. In that context, does the Minister believe we need to reconsider the restructuring of the Defence Forces and the objectives and goals for our security forces?

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