Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The latter point is provided for. I have made that point. No representative body would be presented in any shape or form from representing their members or articulating on issues pertaining to their members, and indeed they have not been. That is not going to be the position. It is in reference to the broader issues of political commentary that I said I would reflect on the legislation and the points that have been made.

On the external oversight body, it is my view, and I have expressed this clearly and upfront to the representative bodies, that it should be an independent external oversight body, as recommended by the IRG. The Secretary General is there as a conduit, clearly, between the external oversight body and the Department in terms of changes that are going to be recommended by the body. There is a very compelling case for the military judge in terms of the operation of the justice system, any justice system, that the perception must be of absolute separation. In terms of the application of justice, that is the issue there. The military prosecutor and the military judge would not be members of a representative association. That is a reasonable position. RACO does not agree with me. However, it is quite reasonable in terms of how justice is administered.

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