Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

There has been much talk about gagging of representative associations and individuals by means of this Bill. Every young person I meet who has joined the Defence Forces tells me that one of the reasons they did so was because they have a representative association, whether it is RACO or PDFORRA. They want the same rights as other young careerists, with someone who is there to represent them at all times. That is an important point to make. I am sure that the Minister will agree that RACO and PDFORRA have always toed the line with regard to political commentary and always will, but this is perceived as a step too far for representative associations. Come the day when somebody makes commentary that is perceived by Government to be off the mark, what will be the consequences? The representative associations are asking that question.

I am from County Kildare. Many people in the Defence Forces are deeply involved in their communities. They are part of their community and community organisations day in, day out. I want to give an example of a member of the Defence Forces who has a child in school who needs additional facilities, whatever they may be. The member then attends a meeting. We all know who is in the Defence Forces in our communities because that happens in counties like Kildare. People are asking me if they can contribute to such meetings. Can they pose questions about the additional facilities that are needed? Can they support them? Can they become a member of a committee that may write to the Minister for Education and ask that question? These people are identifiable and everybody in the room will know that, be they captains or privates, they are members of the Defence Forces. We are asking to change this because we see it as a limitation on those people who are the heartbeat of our communities and who we feel will be gagged by what is proposed. That is why we tabled the amendment.