Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Suffice it to say that we need a system in terms of the implementation of this. I think this is agreed all around. This is what the reference in the speech relates to. I refer to getting this agreed once and for all in a transparent manner, which will then facilitate the implementation of the working time directive. This is important.

The maintenance aspect comes back to personnel. I will tell Deputy Berry that I think there is an issue there. We have six helicopters but they are not all operational at the same time. Turning to Lebanon, Deputy Cowen raised safety and security in that context. We have been in Lebanon for a long time, and through very difficult times in the 1970s, the 1990s, including 1992, I think, and the early 2000s. As those with a background in the military will know, it has clear protocols, operational positioning and posture in the context of challenges and dangerous moments. The commander, of course, and those in command of the different missions, come from the UN. Our troops are answerable in the first instance to those commanders.

Obviously, our own military keeps in touch and monitors the situation, as do we all, to ensure we monitor the safety and force protection of our personnel. This will continue. I met our military leadership to discuss this subject to be very clear myself in this regard. I can say to the Deputies and Senators that we are very conscious of this aspect, but there is established procedure in the UN in the first instance. It is a much larger UNIFIL force than has been the case historically. There are about 10,000 troops there now from many different nations. There are anchor nations, but we are not one, as such, in terms of the size of our numbers involved. We will work in consort with other nations concerning what may or may not transpire. We all hope there will not be a regional extension of this conflict, but we are very conscious of the safety of our troops. There has been experience of previous outbreaks of conflict in Lebanon. We will continue to work with our military leadership on this issue.

Senator Craughwell raised several issues. I think we need to be careful of our language too. I am conscious of this. I know I said earlier that RACO may not appreciate me talking about the culture all of the time, but I do think it is an important issue. The Senator said that the IRG report is untested evidence, but it is not just that report itself. I have met serving and former personnel, and there are issues there, especially in respect of women.