Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak in support of both suggestions. The bottom line is that the singular focus of the defence apparatus at the moment should be recruitment and retention. Reducing people's constitutional rights would be highly unlikely to incentivise someone to join or stay. One of the reasons the Defence Forces are in a bit of difficulty is that people were silenced and could not speak up. When members of the representative association have appeared before this committee, their testimony has been excellent. It has been very powerful and compelling and has been delivered in a very courteous and polite way, which is very constructive. If we look to silence people or if the unintended consequence of this proposal is brought in, the alternative is mobilising the wives and partners of members of the Defence Forces again or the National Army Spouses Association. We will have women protesting outside Army barracks, which is highly commendable on their part but completely unnecessary and unsightly. The other unintended consequence is that we will have military people, either serving or retired, setting up anonymous accounts on social media and being vocal from that point of view. That was actually much worse about four years ago but since the representative association has had the forum, it has been reduced considerably.

That is pretty much all I have to say, except to back up my colleague in relation to the recent High Court case involving Mr. Martin Bright. The High Court judgment that was handed down would be incompatible with the legislation in front of us. I would welcome the Tánaiste's thoughts on that.