3.— (1) F1[Subject to subsection (3), a contingent or member of the Defence Forces] may, with the prior approval of and on the authority of the Government, be despatched for service outside the State for the purposes of—

(a) carrying out duties as a military representative or filling appointments or postings outside the State, including secondments to any international organisation,

(b) conducting or participating in training,

(c) carrying out ceremonial duties, participating in exchanges or undertaking visits,

(d) undertaking monitoring, observation or advisory duties,

(e) participating in or undertaking reconnaissance or fact-finding missions,

(f) undertaking humanitarian tasks in response to an actual or potential disaster or emergency,

(g) participating in sporting events, or

(h) inspecting and evaluating stores, equipment and facilities.

(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Government from giving general approval, for such period of time as they determine, to such classes of any of the activities specified in subsection (1) as they consider appropriate and subject to such conditions as they impose.

F2[(3) A member of the Reserve Defence Force—

(a) shall not be despatched under subsection (1), unless the member has consented to the despatch in accordance with section 86A or 91A, as the case may be, of the Principal Act, and

(b) shall not be despatched for any purpose specified in paragraph (a) of subsection (1).]