Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

This provision was introduced in the 1993 Act by the coalition Government of the time. It is good that the Dáil reviews in some detail and on an annual basis the missions undertaken by the Defence Forces, which for the most part have been approved by the Dáil in accordance with the requirements of the Defence Act.

Section 13 states, "Dáil Éireann may by resolution". That is a permissive provision which also allows for disapproval by the Dáil. The real reason for the phrase is that it enables the Dáil to debate the report. The technical opinion is that, if the phrase is excluded, the Dáil will not be able to debate the reports laid before it. An Opposition amendment was accepted on this issue by the Government in 1993.