Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for making the committee aware of the matter. We will note and publish No. 1516C.

No. 1522C, dated 19 October 2022, is from an individual and relates to the use of public funds to support Ukraine. The correspondent takes the view that the State is participating in the war and is, therefore, breaching Article 28.3 of the Constitution which states "War shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann." This matter has been raised in the Houses and is one for the Dáil and Seanad. The role of this committee is to examine related expenditure of the relevant State bodies once their accounts have been circulated. I propose to advise the correspondent of that. I have flagged up the issue. The correspondent quotes the Constitution, on which I think all members have a handle. The issue is whether it is the role of the committee to decide whether neutrality has been breached. To substantiate his case, the correspondent supplied a copy of extracts of what he said were from a speech by the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney. I suggest we write to the Minister to ask for a response because the correspondent quotes him making certain statements on 29 April 2022 at an event in the John Fitzgerald Kennedy centre in Boston. Is it agreed that we send the correspondence to the Minister seeking a response? This is not really the role of the committee. It is a matter for the Oireachtas to define, make rules and decide on our position on neutrality and it is up to the Houses to interpret and define neutrality and decide whether we are going beyond it. I heard part of a discussion this week in the Dáil. It would be useful to get clarity on that because funding is being provided, we want to be clear on what it is being used for. The Minister is entitled to an opportunity to respond. We have these quotations. I was not familiar with the speech the Minister is quoted as having given on 29 April. We will ask him for a response. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Moving on to our work programme, next week is a non-sitting week due to the Hallowe'en bank holiday. We will engage with Greyhound Racing Ireland on 10 November. On 17 November, we will engage with the Department of Finance. The regulator of the National Lottery will attend on 24 November. On 1 December, we have two engagements. The first is with the Department of Social Protection and the second will be on the operation of the National Lottery. On 8 December, we will have the Office of the Revenue Commissioners before us. The final engagement, on 15 December, is with the Office of Public Works, OPW. We have also agreed to engage with An Bord Pleanála in the new year. Are there any matters members wish to raise regarding the work programme? No. That concludes our consideration of the work programme for the day.

The final matter on the public agenda is any other business. Do members wish to raise any matters? No.