There is a consular team in Beirut with “a civilian evacuation team in place,” he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.

A Department of Defence official said it was his “clear understanding” that such a report had been agreed upon at a meeting in mid-November yet had not been prepared.

They have requested the meeting to discuss the possibility of removing Tánaiste Micheál Martin from the current process of setting up the Defence Forces tribunal.

The Defence Forces have been forced to spend thousands of euros on flights and hotels because the government jet has broken down so often and Air Corps personnel were needed to keep an eye on repair and maintenance bills

There were 7,671 members of the Permanent Defence Forces at the end of August.