It's emerged that there's a major shortage of doctors within the Defence Forces.
There are only 18 doctors currently in the medical corps - barely over half of the required number of 32.
Defence minister Alan Shatter says the defence forces are still accepting applications for doctors, but it hasn't been possible to get the full number.
In the meantime he says dozens of external GPs - including nine who are former military medical officers - are providing medical services to military personnel on a contract basis.
