Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)

These issues are all very important. I thank everybody for their contributions. There are some written responses required to questions that some members did not get to put today. I ask the witnesses to answer them in writing. Senators Craughwell and Higgins in particular had questions. We may have to invite the departmental officials in again as more questions will arise when we have other witnesses in.

I acknowledge that today is International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. Like others, I pay tribute to the defence services, who play a vital role overseas.

Very important questions have been asked here today on the urgency of the legislation and about the numbers and the impact on neutrality. That is the Government's official stance on its impact. There are inconsistencies with the principles of the UN Charter. If this legislation is brought forward, we could be in a situation whereby, retrospectively, we could have sent troops to Iraq. Is that the case? If the decision had been made, could we have sent troops to Iraq? That is quite alarming.