Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

When the UN makes a request for support for a mission, the Government asks the Defence Forces to carry out an assessment. This is forwarded to the Minister who then brings it to Cabinet. Has the verdict of the military on a mission been different from the position adopted by the Government? If such a scenario arose, the public would not be aware of it. How many UN requests does the Minister receive annually? What is the parliamentary involvement in the current procedures? Where the decision is taken, the Dáil is involved and, therefore, an absolute parliamentary role is in built. Will the Minister outline what happens when the military makes a recommendation and the politicians make another?