Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

All the O'Toole report dealt with was whether the procedures were in place to deal with whistleblowers. This is not about the whistleblowers or the cases before the courts at the moment. The State is fighting them tooth and nail and I think it is on the losing side. If those are set aside, there are quite a number of other members who gave service to this State, through the Air Corps, who are suffering catastrophic health problems. Most of these, they believe, are related to the chemicals they were exposed to such as trichloroethylene and others which cause not only minor problems such as ulcers or lethargy, but major heart defects, birth defects, and a range of respiratory and intestinal complaints. It is affecting them in the same way as poison.

Is the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, concerned about the health of former members of the Defence Forces? We should not forget that the Defence Forces, and the Minister of State, still have a duty of care to those who previously served even though they might be in civvies now. They are still answerable to the State in terms of the defence laws. Is the Minister of State concerned and does he believe it is worthwhile finding out what happened? That has not been the task of Mr. O'Toole or anybody else to date.

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