John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Defence Forces has a proud tradition of service, be that with the forces of the United Nations, often in some of the most dangerous places across the world, patrolling our coasts or, indeed, our skies. It would be remiss of me to neglect to mention the incredible record of our Naval Service in the Mediterranean where it was responsible for saving thousands of lives.

What we have before us today represents a series of minor but necessary amendments to the Defence Act 1954 to which Sinn Féin intends to give its support.

While we address these Government amendments today, however, it is incumbent upon the Minister to take heed and give voice to an understanding and undertaking to address the wider number of important and, not merely necessary, but critical, issues that currently beset the Defence Forces.

To give our forces commander on the ground operational control over the military contingent when it is engaged in an overseas operation appears to be common sense. However, to put in place circumstantial constraints on the ability of the forces commander or the troops on the ground by threatening their capacity to function in a professional manner is completely unforgivable, as is standing over the situation where the Defence Forces are starved of the personnel necessary to staff military contingents. Moreover, the continuing loss of skilled personnel to drive to the private sector is a huge drain on the operational capacity of the Defence Forces. It also is unforgivable to equip the younger staff contingents of the Defence Forces with resources with a questionable fit-for-purpose tag and it is unforgivable to house those who serve in our military in habitation that is not fit to keep animals. Some barracks in this country have raw sewage running down the walls. Exposing members of our forces to dangerous chemicals which, in a number of instances has resulted in life-altering consequences, and then stonewalling on the issue, is unforgivable. As for sending our forces on operational assignments without the moral imprimatur of the Dáil, without UN mandate and in clear breach of our principle of neutrality, it is unforgivable. These are all unforgivable and all the more so because they are avoidable.

If a second wave of Covid-19 emerges, our country will once again depend on the commitment, courage and professionalism of our front-line services. The Government will no doubt turn to the Defence Forces to provide the personnel and logistical support it has provided in the past but yet the pay and conditions under which our Defence Forces labours represents the lowest of all the country's front-line services. The Government needs to give a commitment to address these issues and act on it.

On another important point, I must pointedly ask the Minister whether the previous Government, of which he was a member, instruct Defence Forces personnel stationed in Mali - without Dáil consent, it must be said - to train members of the Malian army that was subsequently responsible for the recent coup within that country. While I support the amendment, a force commander should possess operational control while on an overseas mission. However, any and all missions conducted by the Defence Forces most fall unconditionally within the constraints of the triple-lock system whereby it is a decision by the Irish Government to undertake the mission, not a directive from an EU army, and that the mission has secured the approval of the Dáil and the authorisation of the United Nations. We cannot continue to allow a situation to emerge where this country is creeping towards active participation in a continental army under such EU structures as permanent structured co-operation, PESCO. We need to ensure that the principle of neutrality becomes enshrined in the Constitution through the holding of a referendum.

We are also being asked today to pass an amendment which relates to the rights of children in armed conflict to which, again, I intend to voice the support of Sinn Féin. Has the Minister ever taken the time to consider the impact of the failure of the Government to recognise the state of Palestine on the children of Gaza, the West Bank and the countless villages displaced to accommodate colonists? I argue that this failure contributes to the depredations of an Israeli armed military that takes licence to indiscriminately inflict violence upon the Palestinian people, including children, from the failure of the international community to hold them to account.

I wish to conclude on the amendment which the Minister is going to bring forward to remove the provision for the re-enlistment of former enlisted persons because that has become part of other legislation.

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