Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are saying, on the one hand, that of course the associations have a right to represent their members and nothing we do here will prejudice that but, on the other, they shall not engage in making a public statement or comment on Government policy. Some areas of that are quite clear, and do not require any adjudication, for example, if representative organisations are making an appeal to the Government in respect of terms and conditions of their members. We accept that will clearly be allowed under this section, but where it becomes more difficult is if members speak on other issues of concern to them. I met some members of the Defence Forces at the PDFORRA conference who live on the Curragh. They are crippled with the cost of rent and they cannot get housing. They want to see Government policy change and revert back to the provision of housing for members, among other issues. That area becomes a little cloudier. It would arguably be-----