Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Bill provides that any member of the Defence Forces who is a barrister or solicitor may not be a member of a court-martial board. The amendment seeks to remove this provision. A person who is legally qualified in the Defence Forces is a potential member of the legal service. This fact could cast a doubt on his or her independence. In the recently enacted UK Armed Forces Act 2006, such persons are specifically disqualified from being members of what is known as a court-martial board in this jurisdiction. I am not in a position to accept the amendment.