Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister's position. We need to ensure our peacekeeping forces internationally are given the best possible opportunity to do their jobs, remain safe and come back home to their families. That should be a priority for the Government. I welcome the recent increase in funding announced in the budget and that should be at the top of the agenda.

We need to revisit the equipment that is sitting idle in this country. At a time western European democracy is being challenged so viciously and we have weaponry that is about to go out of date, that discussion needs to be had and the issue needs to be revisited. It is immoral for that weaponry to remain in warehouses in this country when there is a European democracy fighting for its very existence against a dictatorship led by a vicious evil leader. That is the reality of the situation in my eyes and that is a discussion we need to have again.

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