Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Malcolm Byrne, on bringing forward this Bill. It is long overdue. When one considers the history of this country and the men and women who wore this uniform, it is a Bill of respect. It is about standing up for democracy, being proud of our soldiers and institutions and standing tall alongside our Army and democratic institutions. I am deeply saddened that the name Óglaigh na hÉireann has been disrespected and dishonoured for decades by terrorist organisations. We have a proud tradition of Defence Forces in this country. We all know there is only one legitimate Army.

I think about the proud origins of our soldiers and Defence Forces and their early beginnings in our State a century ago as Óglaigh na hÉireann. I have to remember some Louth people who lost their lives and served with great dignity in our Army. Sean Magee, was a young officer in pre-Independence times who was murdered by the Black and Tans. Two years later, James Boyle, a member of the national Army, was killed during an ambush during the Civil War. We honour these men. We honour Private Michael McNeela, who lost his young life serving in 1986 in Lebanon. It would also be remiss of me not to mention Lieutenant General Seán Mac Eoin, who was born but 200 m down from my own home. He was an officer who entered in the Army in 1930 and was commissioned the following year.

It is this proud legacy as a proud, distinguished service that makes this Bill so important. This Bill is a symbol of respect, but we also need that symbol of respect translated into actions. We have to have more than respect. We need to look after all our serving and retired Army officers.

When I see the gravestones and headstones of Provisional IRA members using the name of this great country’s Army on their headstones, abusing and insulting a legitimate Army, bastardising and denigrating the name of our Army in the same way they do our flag, it is both upsetting and infuriating. I welcome the acknowledgement that we have only one Army in this country. However, I would ask a question that I would like to have answered because we have not had a clear answer. They purport to support this Bill and say we have only one Army and recognise that. One side does that and the other side does not recognise the State, the Constitution and the background to that State.