Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made in his Department on the roll out of the poverty impact assessment to ensure that all policies are evaluated in terms of their potential impact on poverty and social inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24103/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have very specific functions and roles as set out in the Defence Acts and in the White Paper on Defence. They have no direct role in the implementation of Government policies to relieve poverty and social exclusion. Nevertheless, where matters are submitted for consideration by Government, the Department does have regard to the procedures set out in the Cabinet Handbook in relation to "poverty-proofing" of proposed legislation and/or policy decisions.