Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There has been a very sensible discussion of these issues. I refer to creating the position of the CHOD and joining the three services together in terms of a joint services approach with each having its head or chief of service. Then, we would have a vice CHOD as well in terms of the upper structure.

The issues that will ultimately remain to be determined, which is the edifice, essentially, will be how we demarcate between military and civilian authority and the detail of the role of the CHOD vis-à-vis the services as well. The broad outline is there as determined by the Commission on the Defence Forces. I will acknowledge that there are still issues to be worked through and we will take more consultations from military management and others on that aspect of it.On the timelines, at the moment we have the triple lock amendment potentially coming forward and then I hope this Bill will be next and that we will have substantial progress made by the autumn. I will consider publishing some of the key principles underlining this legislation.