Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said in my original reply, I will keep the matter under review. I meet Defence Forces personnel on a regular basis, and I make sure I speak to them face-to-face. I do not meet those from management level alone, rather I meet those from all levels of the organisation. I encourage members of the organisation and the Irish Defence Forces, if they have issues of any kind that they want to discuss with me, to do so. I met PDFORRA and RACO on numerous occasions. A number of issues the Deputy has raised with me were not raised with me directly since I was appointed Minister of State. My office door is always open to listen to any representative organisations.

One representative organisation said there is more of an open door policy in my office than was the case in the past. It is important that I, as Minister of State with responsibility for defence, am able to interact and maintain good relations with representative organisations. If they want to raise issues with me I have no problem with listening to them.

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