Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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That was the example given by the Minister, not by me. When reading the statement it refers to: “existing security and defence arrangements”, “enhanced military capabilities”, ensuring that our troops are equipped and then there is a reference about reflecting modular innovative technology, none of which I believe anybody would have an issue with. However, my first question for the Minister is why now. We should be dealing with all of these issues for our Defence Forces from the perspective of the Commission on the Defence Forces report. The Minister himself said earlier that this report would be brought to the Government before the recess. Why is this motion then brought before the committee now? Should this not have come after that report was brought to Government and agreed upon by Cabinet?

Second, I have a very specific question again. In the Minister's statement, the fourth paragraph talks about the triple-lock system that is in place in respect of UN-mandated missions, where the Minister had previously said that he would like to see this amended. Does that also apply to what the Minister has outlined in this report because it goes on to speak of: “any deployment of the Defence Forces would require a separate Government decision”?

What is that? How is it triggered? How is it activated? What does it look like?

My final question is in relation to the cybersecurity aspect of this. We spoke of the National Cyber Security Centre earlier. When the Minister speaks of cyber in this, is he referring to the National Cyber Security Centre, or to cybersecurity experts from the Defence Forces alone? I ask this because there are other people who are not from the Defence Forces who are seconded to the National Cyber Security Centre.