Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

This question is obviously posed in the context of the French authorities invoking Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, including the requirement to aid and assist in the event of an attack on another member state. There is speculation in the media that the Minister was considering allowing French troops currently located in Mali to be relieved of their duties and go elsewhere, and for their spaces to be filled by extra Irish Defence Forces personnel. I think that would not be a worthy decision to make, but I wonder what the Minister's thinking is on this.

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