Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Green Paper sets out a range of policy options and questions which were intended to focus submissions on key policy considerations in the preparation of the White Paper. The Deputy may be interested to know my Department has received 117 submissions on the Green Paper. Each of these submissions is being carefully considered by both civil and military personnel within the Department of Defence and, where appropriate, follow-on meetings are being arranged. The process has provided an important opportunity for all key stakeholders to input their views and I look forward to further engaging on this important project over the coming months. In doing so, and as the process is very much ongoing, I do not want to pre-empt or second guess any future policy approaches, such as force distribution and equipment or, indeed, the balance that currently exists between the three services within our Defence Forces.

I would like to thank the Deputy’s party and other parties for their submissions and I want to assure them they are being given full consideration. The issue the Deputy raises is, of course, one of the issues to be considered in the context of preparation of the White Paper.

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