Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

On amendment No. 6, the Bill currently provides that where there is more than one military judge, the Judge Advocate General may designate one of the military judges to be the chief military judge. This amendment seeks to change that so that the President would appoint the chief military judge. While I am happy to accept the principle of the amendment, the Parliamentary Counsel has advised it would be more appropriate to make this change on page 47 of the Bill in section 184N(1). The Senator will note that I have adopted this as a ministerial amendment to section 184N(1).

On amendment No. 10, the ministerial amendment is being adopted from the amendment submitted by the Labour Party Senators on the appointment of the chief military judge it follows. As previously stated, I was happy to accept the intent of the Labour amendment. However, the Parliamentary Counsel has advised it would be more appropriate to make this change in section 184N(1).

On amendment No. 11, the Bill currently provides that where there is more than one military judge, the judge advocate-general may designate one of the military judges to be the chief military judge. This amendment seeks to change this to allow the President appoint the chief military judge. While I am happy to accept the principle of the amendment, it is covered in my own amendment.