They have improved dramatically.

Ah, come on.

The money is not low any more.

It is higher.

I thank Senators for raising this issue. What is the context? Why is there a recommendation for an external oversight body? Its genesis is in the independent review group, which recommended not just the establishment of such an external body but also that the Secretary General would be a member of it.

What is the starting rate?

When I debated this in the other House, and prior to the publication of the independent review group report, almost every person in that House, representing different parties, asked whether I would accept all of the recommendations. They asked me to give a commitment that I would accept all of the recommendations or whether I would welch and do this. I met the independent review group, including the chair, Ms Justice O'Hanlon, and six or seven other members. They said their experience of being on the review group w…

Which proposal?

I just do not know which proposal the Deputy is referring to.

That will not really be the case because the recommendation was for an EOB into the Defence Forces, not the Department, arising out of testimonies and the work of the IRG. The evidence is conclusive that previous iterations of independent monitoring groups, which had representatives on them, did not work. Everyone looked after their particular agenda. I have been in this position for 18 months. We have had developments recently on which people have different perspectives. There needs to be change and I am determine…

About the energy management course. Do you know what you are talking about?

What are you talking about?

I am trying to keep my sanity here.

The French did - Killala and Kinsale.

There is separate legislation coming.

Deputy Connolly made a very disingenuous presentation. I have condemned Israel's bombardment of Gaza, but it is never good enough for the left because it has always attempted to use the Middle East and Gaza as-----

-----a wedge issue continually. Ireland has demonstrated, through its policy on the Middle East and Gaza, its independence and farm policy. For God's sake acknowledge it.

Ireland recognised the State of Palestine with Spain and with Norway, but you could not reference that. You had to try to give the impression that Ireland was a party to genocide. How dare you say that in this House?

The self-righteousness of the far left in this country really frustrates me. What did you not talk about today? What did Sinn Féin not talk about today? What did Deputy Paul Murphy not talk about today? One of the proposals before the House to approve today is whether we participate in an energy management course which costs €1,500 and €5,000 per member, of which there will be four to six a year. Somehow, if we participate in that course we will jettison Irish military neutrality. Will you for God's sake wise up? B…

There are four programmes. There are two PESCO programmes, one about the critical seabed and the subsea which relates to how we co-operate with and learn from others and protect our undersea infrastructure, including sea cables which sustain thousands of jobs in this country. What planet are you on? What bloody planet are you on?