Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is very important in projecting Ireland to the world but also getting Irish people back home safely when required. It is a sensible decision and I am glad the Government is moving on it.

I will ask one question in my final few seconds. Now that we are in the decade of centenaries and the Civil War is being commemorated, I am seeing photographs pop up every weekend. There was one of Youghal, County Cork the other day where Sinn Féin Deputies were walking down the street with people in paramilitary uniforms.

Does the Minister think it is right that a member of the Opposition, who purports to be the shadow Minister for Defence, should march and walk in step with people who do not wear the uniform of our Defence Forces but who wear black berets and sunglasses walking our streets? Is that not wrong? Is it not insulting to the men and women who protect our country, who don that uniform, some of whom have even lost their lives defending Ireland? There is only one Army in Ireland. I ask that during his tenure, the Minister might consider imposing an outright ban on the wearing of paramilitary uniforms at such events. It totally rewrites and distorts what is a proud and sometimes divisive history in our land, but it is wrong. We must call it out as well. If Deputy Brady is Opposition spokesperson on defence, he cannot talk for one Army yet stand and march down the street with another.

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