Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Carthy and many others are seeking greater engagement with the Opposition. The record of the House will show that the Tánaiste has denied requests to refer matters to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence for detailed scrutiny and that votes on related but distinct matters have been taken as a singular vote. Deputy Carthy and other members of that committee have learned of important and sensitive developments through the media, rather than through considered, informed engagement with the Minister's office.

There is no statement on where the Minister wants to deploy Defence Forces personnel. He will not acknowledge that this is a breach of the commitment his Government made to the Irish people in advance of the second Nice and Lisbon treaty referendums. Will the Tánaiste commit to following what have been the standard procedures for new legislative proposals, including holding a full and meaningful public consultation, and that pre-legislative scrutiny will be conducted on the proposed Bill? I also ask for clarity on what will replace the triple lock?

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