Vol. 451 No. 5
52 Mr. Clohessy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider assigning Defence Force personnel to selected Irish embassies as military attachés; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6645/95]
The assignment of Defence Forces personnel to Irish Embassies has been considered on a number of occasions. There is no reason in principle such appointments should not be made. For example, there has been a military adviser from the Defence Forces assigned to the Irish delegation to the CSCE — now renamed OSCE — since the 1970s, and an officer of the rank of Colonel is currently serving with the Irish delegation to the OSCE in Vienna.
The question of whether other such appointments would be warranted in the future will depend on an assessment of Ireland's interests and requirements at the given time. I will continue to keep the matter under review in consultation with the Minister for Defence.
