Results 4,441-4,460 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: It does not.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: The section refers to "without prejudice to" their efforts. "Without prejudice" means they can.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: It is the other protests.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: No. The associations are, generally speaking, the conduit for their members' concerns. They get communicated to the Minister of the day in respect of budgeting matters, pay and conditions or issues affecting the Defence Forces more generally. During the recent statutory inquiry, PDFORRA and RACO came in and gave us their views, which reflected the views of the members of the association....
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: That is for members.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: As an association, yes.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: I can clarify the point. There is nothing stopping the defence representative associations, appointed people and officers of the associations to comment on behalf of their members. That is not being stopped. It is about encouraging a widespread campaign.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am not talking about the lobbying part in that regard. I am talking about campaigning. There is no issue with the defence bodies or the representative associations making commentary. There is no issue there. If we extend that, however, to a full-blooded campaign on a whole range of issues pertaining to political matters, that is a new departure-----
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----the implications of which we need to think through very carefully in the interests of the members themselves. Every member of the Defence Forces has a political view and is entitled to it. Those members probably appreciate the clarity of the current situation in terms of their position. In some respects, a free-for-all scenario could create difficult challenges down the road.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: I will reflect on the amendments that have been tabled. I want to be honest with the members as well, as I said, around Government policy. I will make the point that there is an impression garnered about this. The Defence Forces representative associations, to be fair to them, will try to extend. This is progress for them, insofar as it statutorily provides for association with ICTU....
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: On commentary, we have never had a situation in this history of the State where individual members of the Defence Forces comment as members of the Defence Forces on public policy, Government policy or, indeed, political matters generally.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: Yes, shall not "encourage members".
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: I referred to Defence Force DFR S.6. On communication with media, etc., where there is a whole section dealing with communication with the media, the regulations state "No public statement or comment concerning political matters shall be made by the Association". As it is, it is quite restrictive.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: Let us take international relations.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: It is no less important.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: That is a political matter. It is a matter of potential public controversy, for example, Ukraine or the Middle East. Our Defence Forces can be there as peacekeepers in any given scenario in the future, in Africa, in Sahel or wherever. What if public commentary is made, if protests are happening on those political matters, and people are taking positions on them? How does that colour host...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am not saying that. I am making the point.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: Does the Deputy not see there is merit in what I am saying-----
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----that there is a need for caution here in the degree to which one allows for excessive latitude around this because it could subsequently compromise actions and roles of the Defence Forces?
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)
Micheál Martin: We know that in domestic politics, people are very concerned about a range of international affairs, and rightly so. That is a part of it. We encourage our people to have a global outlook, a European outlook, etc. If people see a defence force or a significant number taking a position, that could subsequently compromise our engagement in certain theatres where we may be required for...