John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The newly appointed Chief of Staff has a very difficult task at hand. We have an organisation that is on its knees. There is a lot of hope around this commission and its final report. The Minister's comments last night showed poor judgment. They completely undermined the Chief of Staff and the difficult role and task he has at hand. It showed extremely poor judgment on the Minister's behalf.

The final report has been long anticipated. There have been a number of leaks and a number of comments attributed to different people in senior positions. I am not sure whether it is an attempt to undermine the report or an attempt to be helpful by ensuring the final report adheres to the terms of reference. Some of the commentary around it has suggested it is a fudge and a missed opportunity. Does the Minister believe the report is in line with the terms of reference? Will it do everything that is hoped by giving clarity and addressing the serious failings within the Defence Forces?

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