Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 26 September 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence

Implementation of the Recommendations of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion

Mr. Se?n Clancy:

To comment on that, as has been outlined by the Secretary General that is exactly the situation, despite what people may think or otherwise. Our focus has always been on delivering. Our focus has been the benefit of the Defence Forces as a whole. We are working to that end. We often have this discussion. Despite whatever the motivations are, this has to benefit and go to the other extreme. The command and control issue, which I think the Senator might have been referring to, lies within the legislative piece. As the Secretary General has outlined before, advices have been received and there is a position paper being developed for the approval of the Government on how to proceed as we move forward. It is not something that is not going to be addressed. It will be. I am satisfied with where we are. It is really a legal and legislative piece, and with the Attorney General’s insights into it, we are now proceeding. This lies with the Department, in particular, its legal services branch. Is that correct?