Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

We need to provide clearer criteria for eligibility and to widen the pool of individuals from which selection can be made.

In the context of the contributions made, I reply, effectively, to that of Senator Mullen who dealt with the objective in question. Perhaps it is a symptom of what has happened in the past in the context of advertising but in the Defence Forces there are individuals engaged in legal work who are qualified barristers or solicitors. Some were recruited to the Defence Forces on the basis that to get a particular job they had to be a practising barrister or solicitor. Others were recruited with that qualification and are doing work that a practising barrister or solicitor would engage in but are doing so within the Defence Forces. By becoming eligible for consideration to appointment they can help to widen the pool of individuals with expertise in areas related to the working of the military courts.