Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That commitment might count for more if the Tánaiste had not just spent the preceding two minutes defending the positions as they currently stand. In respect of the external oversight body, if the Secretary General of the Department of Defence can sit on that body in an ex officio capacity, it makes now sense that there would be a reluctance to allow representative bodies to also be represented in the exact same capacity. The changes proposed for the oversight body to oversee depend on the goodwill and buy-in of the representative organisations. The Tánaiste mentioned that the prohibition on certain members becoming members of the Defence Forces is in place since 2020. He did not mention that the Government lost an independent adjudication on that point and is currently appealing. Third, we have to be very clear that any prohibition in terms of political activity or perceived political activity does not in any way prevent representative organisations or their leaders challenging governments on matters pertaining to the rights and entitlements of their members. They are the changes required to ensure a speedy passage and full support for the Bill.

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