Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

These are young people who want to have a career and to be properly trained and to be properly financed for the work.

These people are deployed on UN peacekeeping missions. They are away from their families for six to eight months. I am a family man, and that seems a long time to be away. These people are making sacrifices. The rewards should be there.

I will put my hand up and say that the Tánaiste continues to do a great deal of good work. He seems to be compassionate, especially in the context of the Seán Rooney incident. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, he always has Ireland at heart. I ask him to consider the position with regard to equipment and pay. As an ex-soldier, I know the type of training these troops do and the sacrifice they make in the context of the amount of time they spend away from their families.

See this speech in context