Amendments Nos. 41 and 42 have been ruled out of order as they involve a potential charge on the Revenue.

Does the Minister wish to respond to that?

Amendments Nos. 43, 47 and 50 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I am sorry to interrupt the Minister and my apologies to Senator Warfield. I know the Senator wanted to get in but, unfortunately, I am bound by the order of the House. As it is now 3 p.m. I am required to put the following question in accordance with the Order of the Seanad of this day: "That amendment No. 43 is hereby negatived in Committee; the Government amendments undisposed of are hereby made to the Bill; in respect of each of the sections undisposed of, the section or, as appropriate, the section as amended …

When is it proposed to take Fifth Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Perhaps Senator Martin wishes to say a few words.

I point out to Senator Garvey that she and her colleagues have very ably put forward their case and the Bill is actually in the process of being passed. I am allowing a few brief comments, out of respect to the Senator and everyone who put work into this legislation.

Yes.

I do not want to interrupt but this has passed the Seanad and we are anxious to get the Bill buzzing its way to the Dáil and into law as quickly as possible.

I thank the Minister of State. I also thank Senators Martin, Garvey and Higgins and their colleagues in the Gallery for all their work in this regard. We will now send the Bill to the Dáil. It is up to the Lower House to deal with it.

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 na…

On a point of clarification, this is a Chamber to discuss legislation. This is the Chamber in which to makes arguments, not outside in the lobby area. This is the area where you put forward your ideas and concerns. The Minister takes them on board, or he does not. I resent Senator Craughwell's comment.

I welcome the Tánaiste to the House and also welcome Michael Flatley and his guests. I note that he is a guest of Senator Aidan Davitt. I was always wondering how he was good at dancing around difficult situations and now I know how that has happened. To follow on from what my colleagues have said in regard to the representative bodies, I agree with them. They believe this legislation is gagging them and depriving them of an opportunity to represent their members fully. I wish to make a technical point, having list…

If they identify themselves as members of the Defence Forces.

She has resigned her post.

I will speak to the Leader and see whether we can facilitate the Tánaiste.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. As the Tánaiste is available to stay until 4.45 p.m., the Leader has agreed to extend this debate until 4.45 p.m.

I listened carefully to what the Minister said and agree with much of it. However, on 26 April the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence published its detailed and considered pre-legislative scrutiny. The committee unanimously agreed that the oversight body should be totally independent and that the Secretary General should not be a member. It also agreed that if the Secretary General of the Department was to be a member of that body, then PDFORRA and RACO should also be represented. In doing a little rese…

I ask Senator Craughwell to resubmit this amendment for Report Stage.