Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

Is cúis áthais é dom deis a bheith agam chun cuidiú leis an rún an-tábhachtach seo, atá ar chlár an lae inniu faoi bhráid na Dála. Tréaslaím leis an Aire Cosanta, an Roinn Cosanta agus an Airm uilig as ucht an seirbhís iontach náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta atá curtha ar fáil acu ar feadh na blianta fada.

It is a great pleasure for me to support this motion and I commend the Minister for Defence on the leadership he has given in military matters in this country and the key role he plays. Anybody considering our Constitution would acknowledge the very critical importance of the Minister for Defence in that Constitution, reporting directly to the President of our country, the Supreme Commander of our Defence Forces.

This motion coming before us this evening demonstrates the importance of this Parliament, our democracy and our neutrality. Every decision taken on external military matters is brought before Parliament, including the appointment of General Nash as force commander of the group going to Chad. The matter was debated in the House and passed unanimously. We are returning to discuss the motion before us.

This motion is the second element of the triple lock mechanism, made up of a Government decision, ratification by the Dáil and the initial UN request. These are all being fulfilled here on behalf of Parliament through its elected Members by the Minister for Defence. I salute him and his colleagues for their outstanding work, both in the Department of Defence and in all of our military operations across the country. They have brought significant success and great honour to this island over the years.

I have a very special interest in defence matters, going back to my election to this House in 1982 and subsequent to that my first appointment as a shadow Minister for Defence in 1983, a position I held for four and a half years. I had a very good relationship with the then Minister for Defence, Mr. Patrick Cooney. We had a common understanding and he gave me a significant opportunity to partner with him on many occasions in many of the military activities which took place around the country. I value that experience.

My brother-in-law recently retired as an officer of the Irish Army, so I have a personal interest in these matters. In particular, I remember my primary school days in 1962, when we deployed our first force to the Congo. We lost a number of great people there, one of whom was a family friend. Those people gave their lives on behalf of Ireland in the cause of world peace.

That has happened on a number of occasions, with different missions throughout the world. On at least two occasions I have had the opportunity to visit our forces in Cyprus and in Bosnia. I have also met members of the Garda Síochána, who are partnering with the Army on United Nations duty there. Like all public servants who serve our country with such distinction, both nationally and internationally, the contribution made by the Garda Síochána and the Army in international fields, dark and difficult places far from home in the cause of world peace, has been absolutely phenomenal. It has brought great distinction to our country.

One can look at the success of the Army in every facet of its activity, be it military or extra-curricular action in equestrian or other sports. We can see how the Army has been a role model for the people of Ireland and the youth of our country. Today I salute all members of the Army, past and present, one of whom at least who has had a distinguished career in the Army is here tonight. I pay tribute to him and all other members of the Defence Forces who have served in Parliament during the years.

See this speech in context