Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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Apologies have been received from Deputy Duncan Smith. The joint committee is in public session to commence its pre-legislative scrutiny of the defence (amendment) Bill 2025. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the following officials from the Department of Defence: Ms Bernie Maguire, assistant secretary defence and security policy; Ms Clare Tiernan, assistant secretary defence capability people policy; Ms Carol Burke, principal officer of the Defence Forces personnel policy branch; Mr. Brian O'Meara, principal officer of the international security and defence policy branch; and Mr. Billy Tuohy, principal officer of the legislation branch. They are all welcome.

The officials will provide us with a briefing on the general scheme of the Bill. I will invite Ms Maguire to make an opening statement on behalf of the Department. This will be followed by questions from members of the committee and each member has a seven-minute slot to ask questions and for officials to respond. I advise members of the constitutional requirement that the members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to the constitutional requirement. Therefore, a member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any members partaking via Microsoft Teams that prior to making their contribution to the meeting ,they confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, I will direct them to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction. As the witnesses will probably be aware, the committee will publish the opening statement on its website following the meeting. The witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in any such way that as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, I will direct them to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Before I invite Ms Maguire to make her opening statement, as Chair I wish to welcome members and witnesses to the first session of this pre-legislative scrutiny on the defence (amendment) Bill 2025. This is important legislation that deserves intensive examination. The importance of the Bill is reflected in the hundreds of emails I have received with regard to its impact and raising many questions about it. I am heartened by this public interest shown in the Bill. As a committee we have a responsibility to ensure that all the questions raised by members of the public are clearly and thoroughly addressed. Throughout the course of this scrutiny, we will hear from witnesses with opposing views. It is our job to ensure that this Bill is examined in a robust and respectful manner. There should be no constraints on enabling us to do this in the most comprehensive manner possible. I invite Ms Maguire to make her opening statement.