Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I also welcome Dr. Manning. While I was unable to attend, I was able to observe his contribution and presentation on the monitor and was highly impressed by it. I commend him for the work he is doing and note that it is a source of no small pride for Members that Senator Zappone is a member of the commission and that her contribution was also very affecting.

The submissions Members have received have proved the Leader of the House was being proactive when he initiated this debate. Members have received some interesting contributions from various agencies and the debate has been a catalyst for educating them in this regard. In particular, I was interested in the submission made by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The trade union movement has always been positive and committed to human rights. Will Dr. Manning comment on what is considered the equivalent level of support for human rights in IBEC, employment and other interest groups? Do they share the same zeal for human rights displayed by the ICTU and other trade unions? He should comment on this issue.

In common with Senator Leyden and the Leader of the House, I was nominated by a group in which gardaí were involved. It is important that the Garda representative associations should be, as part of their human rights, associated with the ICTU.

This morning on the Order of Business I raised a matter relating to the rights of gardaí. Defence Forces members who are on duty overseas are entitled to a postal vote in national elections, but the same entitlement is not available to members of the Garda Síochána serving overseas. This is a fundamental flaw and a human rights issue. I do not expect Dr. Manning to have solved it before the presidential election, but it is a point he might take on board.