I will not be adding to any vitriol but I do want clarity. We have a very proud record of deployment of UN peacekeepers, always under the umbrella of acting in the interest of the world community. A move away from the endorsement of the United Nations to simply domestic endorsement, or endorsement as part of a geopolitical group, would have two consequences. One, it would put our troops in much more danger because they would be seen not as acting as part of the world community but as acting for part of the world, a…

Yes.

As we strive and succeed in reducing deaths by diseases such as heart failure and cancer, we deploy ever more technology and research into new medicines and procedures with the objective of prolonging life. We are going in the other direction when it comes to deaths and injuries on our roads. Road traffic accidents happen in an instant. Vibrant and healthy individuals with full lives to live and ambitions to fulfil are taken from us in a moment and leave devastation and unimaginable grief. We must apply the same an…

I, too, welcome warmly to the House representatives of Justice for the Forgotten. On 17 May 1974, 50 years ago, co-ordinated bombings were carried out by loyalist paramilitaries. Three bombs in Dublin and a fourth in Monaghan shattered the lives of countless families. Thirty-four were killed and almost 300 injured. It happened during the Ulster Workers' Council strike called to oppose the Sunningdale Agreement. One of the bombs exploded in Talbot Street, a route to Connolly Station for Wexford people going home. I …

The Tánaiste should have a look at the Oireachtas query service for passports as well. It is not great at the moment

Legislation on the Defence Forces, in general, being debated in this House is a rare occurrence. I cannot recall many occasions when the time of the House has been occupied by this issue, and maybe that will give us an indication it is an area of public policy that has not been focused on enough over the years. It goes to the heart of why the Defence Forces are so undermanned at the moment. We simply cannot recruit enough and those we are recruiting we cannot retain, and we have not paid enough attention to that. M…

I would say it will be something that will be repeated daily by everybody. This new entity is to be responsible for overseeing and monitoring the human resources of the Defence Forces and reporting to the Minister, as the body deems appropriate. Its duties are set out in the new section 322 on page 14 of the Bill. This includes "the recruitment of members of the Defence Forces", which is a critical issue; "the induction, training ... education and performance management of members of the Defence Forces"; "the opera…

Deacair go leor.

Níl sé deacair dóibh siúd a bhfuil an Ghaeilge go líofa acu.

Mar Leas-Cheann Comhairle, tá Gaeilge líofa agat ach níl an caighdeán sin ag formhór na ndaoine-----

Even though the people-----

It depends on who is in charge.

It is the first step.

I ask the Tánaiste to set out the specific projects that are being undertaken by Ireland under the EU's CFSP, including Partnership for Peace and PESCO.

I thank the Tánaiste for restating the legal position. I ask him to comment on the letter of invitation issued by the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel, to leaders to today's European Council meeting in which he states "a real paradigm shift in relation to our security and defence" is required. He asserts that "it is high time we take radical and concrete steps to be defence-ready and put the EU’s economy on a “war footing”" and goes on to say, "Building this strategic security mindset require[s…

I thank the Tánaiste for setting out the rationale for the views expressed so strongly by the European Council President but my question was about our response to it. If that is the mindset of Europe, does the Tánaiste agree that Europe has to put its economy on a war footing? What would that mean for our country? What does the Tánaiste think the contribution of the Government will be to those discussions today and tomorrow?

Should we be part of that?

I too will take this opportunity to wish the Taoiseach well on foot of his announcement today. I had the privilege of working with him in government. Everybody in this House who is called to public service approaches the call to serve this nation to the best of his or her ability. Whatever is in the future for the Taoiseach, I wish him well. The ongoing horror of Gaza continues on an hourly basis in the slaughter of men, women and children. In his invitation letter to the EU leaders for tomorrow's Council meeting, …

The spectre of famine looms over Gaza. Already, children and infants have died of starvation there and scores have been killed as they simply queued for food. Could the Tánaiste set out the Government's response to these issues?

I welcome the views set out by the Tánaiste, but I am anxious to know what is going to happen as a result of those actions. The situation is a crisis. It is like watching what happened in Rwanda where there were mass deaths. The world is outraged, but what is the world to do to prevent an absolute disaster unfolding in front of our very eyes? In terms of the first question, will there be an independent investigation? Have the Tánaiste's calls resulted in bringing that about? Second, the air drops are obviously enti…