It does not, unless they are on permanent service, which is rare.

Yes.

I have dealt with the matter already.

Does the Senator wish "Government policy" to be removed?

That is without prejudice to the representative associations' ability and capacity to advocate on behalf of their members' interests, which is quite a broad range.

Yes, it does. They advocate for housing. The representative bodies have been established with a function, to represent their members. The representational nature and function of the representative bodies is in no way stymied or undermined by any provision in this Bill. The inclusion of "without prejudice" is to make that legally crystal clear. The Attorney General and his office are absolutely clear about that. Otherwise we could have - I have to be careful about the areas - PDFORRA or RACO suddenly commenting on, …

The issue is that Senators are seeking legal guarantees in respect of the representative function of the representative associations. That is secure; I made sure of it. I went back to check it. The Attorney General is clear that this is achieved in the section relating to prejudice.

We indicated earlier that we believe a political Independent is covered by the term "political organisation".

As we speak, any consequences fall to the Minister to decide under the 1954 Act. The level of delegated authority is quite low. In fact, I envisage that the new CHOD legislation we discussed earlier will create a far more sensible picture in respect of disciplinary matters and so forth. As it stands, any discharge, for example, inevitably wends its way to the Minister and, ultimately, to the President. There are safeguards there and there has been litigation in respect of some attempts. The regulations will be laid…

As the Senator knows, one rarely gets into the precision of a concentration of a substance in primary legislation. In the making of these regulations, the Minister of the day will take advice.

I thank the Senator for bringing his experience to bear on this debate. Essentially, what is happening here is that we are amending the principal Act to say a member of the Defence Forces shall be subject to drug testing in accordance with regulation made under this section. The Minister may, in relation to members of the Defence Forces, make regulations to provide for the establishment, maintenance and operation of a regime of testing for controlled drugs and psychoactive substances which provide for a, b, c, d, e…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2023, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 3rd May, 2024, in accordance with section 13 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006. I welcome this opportunity to report to the Dáil on Irish Defence Forces participation in United Nations missions in 2023. The presentation of this UN report gives this House the opportunity to express our appreciation for the role which the D…

I will be in the other House at 5.15 p.m. to seek Dáil approval to start PESCO and EDA projects.

I do not believe it should be as huge as is being presented.

What time is the Debate due to end in this House?

It is not misinformation.

I am available until 4.45 p.m.

You are wrong.

I will come back to that issue on Report Stage.

No, we did not.