Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak briefly during this debate. With the permission of the Chair, I would like to preface my remarks by mentioning that, with my local colleagues, I represent a constituency where a double murder took place last Friday. I extend my sympathies to the families that have been affected. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to comment on the matter.

As somebody who has been interested in Army and defence matters for some time — I served for the past five years as a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights — I am happy to contribute to this important debate. I have had many opportunities to contact the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, since he was appointed to this area. I do not wish to be flippant during a serious discussion of this nature when I mention that the Minister, of whom I am a big supporter, is of course from Limerick, and people often speak about the bonds between Limerick and Tallaght.

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