Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Tánaiste's fundamental proposition. Most members of the Defences Forces and society in general would agree that we should have non-political Defence Forces, in the sense of non-party political and non-politically active. I ask the Tánaiste to respond further to Senator Wilson's point and the points made by Senators Craughwell and Wall and to assure us that members of the Defence Forces, in a lay or private capacity, can be members of community organisations, school bodies, local pressure groups working to improve their communities and so on and can be active in their communities. I also ask him to reassure us on the point that they can come with their community organisations to a given Minister and make a representation. If that is so, then the fundamental purpose and objective of the Bill is correct. We want non-party-political and non-political Defence Forces and gardaí. Both have served this State very well.