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

Yes, if they are in a room, they put their hand up and say they are members of the Defence Forces and they believe in X, Y, or Z. On the point about Government policy, let us turn it around. Are we really saying that we are inviting members of the Defence Forces to criticise Government policy publicly, left, right and centre? If we do not have a provision like this in the legislation, that is what is going to happen. There are plenty of people out there who would love to infiltrate and create mischief too. We had a different case recently in respect of Libya, where there was penetration, not by a political grouping but in terms of some former members in a grey area between leave out in Libya. We have to be wide awake as to what can happen.

I must be absolutely clear that there is no attempt, in any shape or form, to restrict the work of the representative associations in advocacy for their members. I find it difficult to comprehend that this is now being asserted, given that this legislation seeks to move us forward and allow the associations to be members of ICTU. That is the whole purpose of this legislation and this had all been agreed in the litigation that gave rise to this in terms of the associations and ICTU. A lot of this was hammered out in an agreement with the representative bodies at that time. It is legitimate for people to ask questions, to get clarity and to get guarantees but this is in no way designed to restrict, nor does it have the legal effect of restricting, the representative associations from advocacy and arguing on behalf of their members. I welcome that advocacy and have no issue with it. I meet with RACO regularly and with PDFORRA in respect of a wide range of issues. We have just recently signed off on the organisation of working time directive, which finalised the military management position. We had talks and got that signed off. It is now with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which has responsibility for that directive and which will legislate. We are not trying to bring in legislation that would somehow restrict any of that. I want to be very clear about that.

I do not see the Pride parade as political. Senator Craughwell might argue that it is, but in many ways-----