Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The role will be very similar, the same as for the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, now and the Minister of State, Jack Chambers. For years, I think people wanted a senior Minister in the Department of Defence. I am the senior Minister in the Department of Defence as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs because for years people felt that having just a Minister of State dealing with defence matters was somehow undermining of the Defence Forces. That is the way it has been ordained since the commencement of the Government and that is the way it will continue.

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