Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is very welcome. These women are being denied that peace of mind, despite having been tasked with keeping the peace for others on behalf of the State overseas.

The report into the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces also arrived at a time of escalating global tensions, with uncertainty around Russian troops along the border of Ukraine. The minds of a certain cohort here at home turned to war games, with a rush of blood to their empty heads from the comfort of the armchair or, indeed, the barstool. Those furthest from the fighting shout the loudest. Among these barstool soldiers were those who never raised their voices as the British Army slaughtered unarmed people, including children, on the streets in the North. Yet, they are the first to lecture the people who survived. They are still very quiet about the reports of the police ombudsman into collusion. Beyond the island, those same barstool soldiers have their eyes wide shut to children starving to death in Yemen while billions worth or arms are manufactured, traded, and rained down on the innocent by the complicit and the powerful.

There is a lot of money to be made in arms and ammunition. This rampant capitalism is a war game in itself. It is a war on people and it is a war on the planet. This matters to us on this tiny island because when it comes to our Defence Forces and their future, the Government needs to make clear whether it is nudging them towards an EU army and involvement with PESCO, or whether we will be keeping our traditional and valued neutrality. The people need to know and they have a right to know so I ask the Minister and the Taoiseach to make that clear. Are we keeping our neutral status or are we not? Is this what Fine Gael wants? The Government might get its fancy new war gear and jet fighters but it is a double-edged sword because sooner or later it will be expected to use them.

Given the experiences of the Women of Honour and the kind of culture that suggests, it is not entirely surprising that the Defence Forces are haemorrhaging personnel. A recommendation of particular interest to me and to my party is that of representative association affiliation with ICTU. The Government could take this powerful yet simple step immediately and show its concern for members of the forces and their best interests. Such a move would indicate to the committed members of our forces that, just as they are tasked to mind us, the State is prepared to mind them and their families, because theirs is such a tough job, physically and emotionally.

We live in an unprecedented time of change and the world is facing a crisis in human existence due to climate change. We already know how wonderful our Defence Forces are in times of crisis. I know many of them personally because they live in my constituency of north Kildare. Our primary focus should be on investing in, recruiting and retaining personnel and the people in our Defence Forces. I welcome that the Minister, the chief of staff of the Defence Forces, the Secretary General of the Department of Defence, and members of representative associations are due to appear at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence in the time ahead. That will be a very important meeting. I welcome the report but most important, I look forward to action on it.

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