Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste and welcome him back to the House. I thank him for his detailed explanation in respect of this amendment.

I have read the opinion that Senator Craughwell received from legal counsel. As a layperson, it seems that the rights of members of the Defence Forces are being undermined to a certain extent. On the last day I made the following point: if a member of the Defence Forces becomes a director of a community and voluntary organisation, they are on a public register where they must state their name, for example, Gerard Craughwell, Michael McDowell or Micheál Martin, and their occupation, which would be "member of the Defence Forces". The form would clearly identify them as a member of the Defence Forces. That is where I see a difficulty with a member of the Defence Forces becoming a director of a community and voluntary organisation because he or she is clearly identifiable as a member of the Defence Forces. That is the point I tried to make. As a result of their directorship of that community and voluntary organisation, they may by lobbying politically.They may be lobbying politicians and they are clearly identified as a member of the Defence Forces.