Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am looking for a little clarity. I am delighted to see that the Government has resolved to fully endorse the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including the optional protocol. While I understand that the Cabinet has agreed to do this, when will this happen and on what date? I have heard some mixed messages that it might be December and, given the circumstances of the likelihood or otherwise of a general election, I am not really sure what this means. I would like some clarity on precisely when the optional protocol will be fully ratified formally and I welcome the development.

I want to bring to the attention of the House a matter of concern. A mechanised brigade of Israeli troops has now manoeuvred away from the Irish position 6-52. That is being presented in the Irish media as a sort of a welcome development in that it somehow represents a lowering of the threat to the personnel in that position. I am telling Senators now that represents an increase in the threat to the personnel in that position.It increases the likelihood of them coming under fire by at least 50%. The threat posed to our troops is grave. I also commend the comments of our Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, when he said that it is not acceptable to destroy a nation in order to dismantle an organisation such as Hamas or Hezbollah. This again shows the leadership of the Irish Government in this regard. For the record, I acknowledge the considerable moral and ethical leadership of our Government. Could we have a debate and maybe invite the Tánaiste to the Seanad? I am getting a lot of calls, as I am sure many Members are, from families of soldiers who are going to rotate out to the Lebanon between now and November. There is a lack of clarity about how the troops will be safely rotated and how our troops will come home. I am not talking about a unilateral withdrawal from UNIFIL. However, having been in that position myself, of travelling to a post and running out of rations and water, I know the mental resilience that requires. When will those troops be withdrawn from 6-52 back to battalion headquarters to be relieved in place?