The new subsection (1A) states: "(1A) Without prejudice to the Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and any regulations made thereunder, a member of the Permanent Defence Force shall not— [...] (c) address a meeting of a political organisation or society.”. They can attend because they are not specifically barred from attending. That is one of the issues. My colleague, Senator McDowell, brought up one of the most interesting issues regarding this Bill. He brought up a gay person who is a member of a community or committee …

Come on. It is there.

It is the truth.

The debate on the Bill, disgracefully, has been guillotined. Under Standing Order 62(3)(b), I request that the division be taken again other than by electronic means.

A few days ago, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, said those serving in the Defence Forces must be held to a higher standard because they are part of a force that is meant to protect society. That statement was backed up by Lieutenant General Clancy. I am sorry to say, I felt he should have spoken up for the honourable people in the Defence Forces rather than the people who were dishonourable. Kathy Sheridan had a go at me and my colleague, Deputy Cathal Berry, in The…

These are reported matters.

Okay.

No, it is not.

Including historical-----

I will not name anybody. The bottom line on it is-----

We have allegations of sexual harassment and abuse in the National Ambulance Service. In such circumstances, where do we strike a balance when it comes to zero tolerance? My belief is that zero tolerance should be the approach in every organisation in the country and that we should not tolerate any of that sort of behaviour. However, we cannot now single out the Defence Forces because they happen to be the whipping boys this week. Let us go through the entire public service. The Defence Forces have been put under m…

During the Order of Business, it slipped by me that this is to be guillotined on Committee Stage after two hours today. With all due respect to the Tánaiste, this is a matter for the House and how it runs its business. Two hours for an important piece of legislation on Committee Stage seems to me to be outrageous.

We should not be rushing legislation through the House. It is just wrong.

I move amendment No. 1: 1. In page 6, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “Amendment of Section 17 of Principal Act 6. The Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 17: “Command of Defence Forces 17. Command of the Defence Forces is exercisable as follows: (a) the supreme command of the Defence Forces vested in the President is exercisable by him or her on the advice of the Government; (b) under the supreme command of the President and subject to the provisions …

I accept what the Tánaiste is saying, but this is the point I am making about the overreaching arch of the Department. In Defence Forces communities in Athlone, Galway, Cork, etc., generally speaking, it fell to the officer commanding the unit. This is what happened back in the day when I was there when the local community wanted assistance. We used to have firing parties, for example, for old IRA people. The request went into the commanding officer. It was sanctioned locally and dealt with locally. Now, everything…

I thank the Minister. We find ourselves in a situation where he is promising legislation coming down the line that is going to fix all these things. He is correct in what he says but he may not be in power long enough to bring that legislation forward. Legislation takes a long time to draft. Who knows, but the coalition parties might come back in September and decide they are heading to the high road, and where will the legislation be then? The amendment we have been talking about puts in place a command structure …

I am sorry, but it is relevant to my amendment. We are talking about a command structure.

The Minister's acceptance of the Department worries me.

The rationale is very clear and simple. The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces has a defence focus and is an expert in the area of defence. The Secretary General is an administrative person who does not have a defence background. We are living in very dangerous times. I resent the fact the Minister says I am hostile to the Department. I am anything but hostile to the Department.

I personally believe the Department has a job to do and I am 100% supportive of that, but I am also deeply concerned that defence is in some way being pushed aside. It is being pushed into a corner. The events in recent weeks demonised the Defence Forces. I was deeply disappointed in the Minister's own statement when he said members of the Defence Forces have to be held to a higher standard than the rest of society. How can he say that? We are drawn from society. Members of the Defence Forces are members of our soc…