Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister cannot resist the opportunity to pass the buck. His stewardship over two Departments is an absolute bloody disaster. PDFORRA, which represents the vast majority of men and women serving in our Defence Forces, has expressed grave concerns about the decision he made in this matter. No aspersion is being cast on retired Colonel Anthony McCourt, but PDFORRA is making the obvious point that the Minister has replaced a person who was independent, not from a Defence Forces background and served full-time in the role for seven years with somebody who previously served in the Defence Forces and will work on a part-time basis. Whether we like it or not, this might throw into question decisions made by the ombudsman or create a certain perception. That is the reality.

Will the Minister address the concerns expressed by PDFORRA as representative of the overwhelming majority of members of the Defence Forces? I am merely putting those concerns to him today. Perhaps he will even be willing to meet with people who have a different view from himself. Instead of looking in the mirror for wisdom all the time, he might, God forbid, discover that there are people other than himself with a valuable opinion to offer.

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