Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

It does not come into it.

Senator Dardis asked whether we would be able to commit to the rapid reaction force. I have just concluded discussions on a memorandum of understanding with the Nordic Battle Group. We will be making a very significant contribution to that battle group, which will be on standby from 1 January 2008. Senators Dardis and Maurice Hayes also asked about an Irish soldier who commits a serious offence while abroad in a country where the maximum punishment for an offence might be far greater than the maximum punishment here. In that case the Irish system has seisin of that. It is an established convention that they go for the Irish legal system. If, of course, the person does not want to opt for the Irish legal system, he or she can opt for the Islamic system or whatever applies in the particular country. I believe they will usually opt for the Irish system.

Senator Maurice Hayes also asked whether we had sufficient bodies. I am assured that we have. The Senator made the valid point that the Bill contains no whistleblower provision. I only noticed its absence when the Senator mentioned it. In this regard it differs from the Garda legislation and we will consider it. We already have an excellent military ombudsman, Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn. We should be safe enough if she finds out that the Senator did not know that.