Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I too wish to start my comments by congratulating the Cathaoirleach on her appointment. I genuinely look forward to working with her on this very important and new committee. It is an honour to be appointed to this committee, particularly at a time when we are seeing issues of security, including international security, in Ireland and right across the European Union. I acknowledge the commitment the Government has given and the work it has done in establishing this committee. It is very important. I welcome the work done to date on the implementation of the Commission on the Defence Forces recommendations and acknowledge there is a lot of work there yet to do. We should ensure the Defence Forces' personnel get the support they deserve. This is a very important point in relation to the work we will do here. I would like my work on this committee to be pragmatic but also personnel-centred. I am aware of the challenges presented here today, particularly by Senator Clonan who spoke very well and who informed us very well about the triple lock. It will be a huge part of the work of this committee. There is no point in denying it. There is a huge amount of discussion in the media about it. The work of this committee will be absolutely vital to informing the public and ourselves and to having a fair and honest debate about that. Senator Craughwell and others also mentioned what it means to be neutral, militarily unaligned, militarily neutral in today's world. We have very important work to do to get unbiased views at this committee and to inform us as members. I look forward to working with all members in the years ahead.