Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I congratulate the Minister and his officials on the safe passage of this Bill through both Houses. The Minister showed himself to be amenable to amendments in this and the other House. We all want to see a military discipline system within the Defence Forces which is in keeping with the best international human rights standard. The fact that this legislation has gone through both Houses of the Oireachtas is a major advance.

It has been some years since the last Act in this area and I presume this will be re-visited in a number of years. Much will depend on the advances made internationally in human rights and what is best practice in defence forces throughout the world. We must learn from example, especially from those countries with which we serve overseas. The fact the Minister operated on a co-operative basis in both Houses and that we now have a more modern and codified area of dealing with military discipline is a major advance.