Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We had interesting statements last night on the high-level action plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces. I will make a couple of points about that. Before I do, I welcome Senator O’Loughlin’s mum. I lived in Kildare for eight years and have happy memories of it. I was made to feel welcome and at home there. Senator O'Loughlin has been a great mentor and colleague since I arrived here, as has everybody in this House. Senator O'Loughlin is a credit to her mum. I am delighted to see her here today.

A number of interesting points were raised last night. The Minister indicated in his response that he had little time and would like to come back to the House again. There were a couple of issues that I would like to revisit if we can facilitate the Minister’s return. I was struck by the comments that Senator O’Loughlin made about the Reserve Defence Force. During my time in the Defence Forces, we interacted with the Reserve Defence Force, which was then known as Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil, the FCA. It had high-calibre people, including businesspeople and public servants. They had a wealth of industrial and professional experience. The military does everything that is done in society and replicates it, from logistics to nursing to dentistry. It is a huge human capital resource. We are confronted by many challenges. Under the European Union Petersberg Tasks, the priorities for our military are to address man-made and natural disasters. There is significant potential for our Defence Forces, particularly for the Reserve Defence Force, to be mobilised to aid the civil authority. I have it from no less an authoritative source than The Sunthat there is a triple-dip La Niña in the Pacific, which means there is a possibility of a repeat of the great freeze of 2010, the Beast from the East and so on. Our military personnel come to the fore in such situations.

With regard to other challenges, the Minister mentioned the defence academy. Throughout Covid, members of the medical profession publicly advised the Government. We did not have civil servants from the Department of Health doing so. It is high time that we find a mechanism or platform for senior members of our military to publicly advise the Government. There should be some platform, as in other jurisdictions in Europe, to give advice on the many challenges that confront us, from the destabilisation caused by the conflict in Ukraine to climate change and other issues coming down the tracks. That will bolster the intellectual tradition of our forces, which is nascent. It would be great if we could invite the Minister back to discuss these and other issues.