Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps that is something we could seek. The Seanad has an international interest and an international perspective. The Minister of State will be aware that many key debates on defence, ranging from Jadotville to other matters, have taken place in the Seanad.He will also be aware that the Seanad has a long record of human rights and humanitarian activity and motions. In fact, not just this Seanad but several Seanaid have had that focus. The annual discussion that takes place in the Dáil might be something we should seek to replicate in the Seanad. It is certainly a proposal I will bring to the Seanad Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight or to our leaders' meetings. I hope the Minister of State and the Department will facilitate such a discussion because Members would have useful perspectives to add to the debate and it would give further assurance or another level of scrutiny or set of perspectives to that scrutiny. In this context, I will not press the amendment but I am going to pursue an annual discussion on secondments and international missions in which Ireland takes part.

For example, I am very concerned that Ireland is withdrawing its participation in the UN mission in western Sahara at a time when I believe the mission should expand from supervision of a referendum that is not happening to humanitarian and human rights monitoring on the ground. The mission in western Sahara that deserves a slightly expanded brief and I hope Ireland will continue to participate in it. I am aware the Permanent Defence Forces are overstretched, which is another reason we need to be very careful about how we are using them in order that they are most effective and used where Ireland can add its unique value and talent and its particular perspective and international credibility as a neutral but committed human rights and humanitarian peacemaker.