Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for this statement in response to the deployment decision. It is important to have some context in regard to these matters. It is stated the Defence Forces cannot be deployed unless a mission has been approved by the United Nations, the Government and Dáil Éireann. It does not refer to Seanad Éireann or the Oireachtas. It is really important to state that.

Article 28.3.1° of the Constitution states: "War shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann." That is really important to note. I am disappointed because I believed up to today that it was a matter for the Oireachtas, not just the Dáil. These are the facts. We have to deal with the facts, the parameters of the Constitution and the process in regard to the triple lock. It has to have a UN mandate and the approval of the Government and the Dáil. Therefore, the arrangement has met all its criteria, and it was overwhelmingly supported in the Dáil, with a very large majority. I watched the debate from my monitor in my office. That is the background and context. I thank the Minister for coming in here and taking us through the process and rationale for the decision.

I call on Senators on all sides to consider, on having read, debated and reflected upon the provision in the Constitution, a constitutional referendum that will insert "and Seanad Éireann" after "Dáil Éireann". It makes sense. It would be a good idea. It is not the law as it currently stands. It is a proposal that I will promote. I hope many of us can work on it in the coming months. I call for deliberation and consideration by all Members of the Oireachtas with a view to having a constitutional referendum to amend Article 28.3.1° of the Constitution.

The Irish Naval Service has rescued 16,000 people from the Mediterranean under Operation Pontus. This is something we could be particularly proud of. The rescue was in conjunction with the Italian Government. I had the pleasure some weeks ago in Dún Laoghaire of welcoming the Defence Forces on their entry to the port, as did Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. All members of the Defence Forces spoke with great pride about their engagement in the Mediterranean and the work they had done. Nobody cast any shadow over it. They were eager and keen to engage again. That is the message I took away from these men at the port only a few weeks ago.

We know the Cabinet has approved Operation Sophia. We know it is on. It is a rescue mission. It was approved in Dáil Éireann this afternoon with a large majority. The Taoiseach said in the House yesterday that this is being done at the request of the Defence Forces, who want to do more and to be part of a mission in the Mediterranean and rescue refugees and combat human trafficking. I support this. The primary, but not the only, objective of Operation Sophia is to target and stop gangs using vessels for human trafficking. The mission is a rescue mission. It is a humanitarian response to people's needs. It has the absolute support of the Naval Service. It has the support of many people. We, as a nation, were particularly proud to see our Defence Forces on a mission in the Mediterranean. I have met so many people who talked about the great pride we had in our Defence Forces when they were there. The triple lock has been complied with. The Dáil and Government have approved the mission and we have to move on.

I rest my case with this challenge to both Houses of the Oireachtas. Let us, after mature reflection, consider amending Article 28.3.1° of the Constitution with a view to strengthening it to include Seanad Éireann in the triple lock. It is not included now. I thank the Minister of State.