The changes to the public service pension scheme in 2013 essentially created, first, an anomaly and, now, something that has crystalised into policy in respect of fast accrual. Has the Department taken any steps to address issues with the fast accrual single public service pension scheme for members of uniformed services recruited after 2013, specifically the lack of a supplementary pension until they reach State pension age? Has the Department any plans to address these issues?

I will jump on one phrase the Minister used. I know it has been essentially a policy that Government spokespeople have used. It is that people are "able" to work after the age of 55. I raised this question on the back of a meeting I had with Dublin firefighters and their union representatives last week. They spoke to me about the specific dangers that their vocation introduced into their lives. They simply have lower life expectancies and poorer quality of life after retirement and higher incidences of cancer and a…

I appreciate the liability of the State in terms of pension services but the fact that the supplementary pension has not been a feature since 2013 shows that these uniformed services are a casualty of that policy. Besides the moral obligation we have to these workers who have provided crucial services to our society in the course of their careers, I would also speak to the retention issues that this drives. In a recent survey of more than 2,000 members of the services recruited after 2013, fewer than 1% were not co…

Since 2016, there has been an almost 70% increase in the number of aircraft permitted to bring weapons of war through Ireland or on Irish-registered aircraft. A significant number of flights carrying weapons destined for Israel have travelled through Irish airspace without permission. One would have to wonder, given the carte blanche that apparently exists in the relevant Department, why those flight operators did not simply apply for exemptions because the likelihood is that any such requests would immediately hav…

They are the facts.

The legislation applies to both-----

The legislation-----

I too welcome this motion. Gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair na Dála. I wish to speak to three main points in my comments. I will discuss the impact that these weather events are having on communities, lives and livelihoods across Ireland, our need to build climate resilience and what we really want from assistance schemes in order that they be reliable and effective. The key message is that we are not asking the Government to control the weather. We understand that is not possible,…

The Minister did not answer the question.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises: — Ireland's long-standing policy of military neutrality, our strong tradition of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance abroad, and our strong international reputation in diplomacy; — the importance of safeguards and oversight in ensuring Irish military deployments are in line with our policy of military neutrality; — the importance of democratic consultation in shaping Ireland's future defence policy; and — the Government plans to remove the current Triple Lock mechanism an…

I will pick up on some of the points made by the Minister of State and his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. The latter set out a very visceral story about his experience in the UN in 2022 where he had a concern because he did not know whether or not there was going to be a veto. I believe this was about Operation Althea. He did not finish the story. There was no veto. He also did not respond to what I put out as the clear mechanism that can satisfy the triple lock in the event there is a veto or conc…

-----today and last week in the debate on the international security on trade, the Minister of State has said twice that this was in the general election manifesto. It was not. The triple lock is not mentioned in the Fine Gael manifesto. It is mentioned in the Fianna Fáil one but it is mentioned in the context of reform. What the Minister of State is proposing is simply not reform. That is clear.

Another issue I have to pick up on in the contribution of the Minister, Deputy Byrne, is that he said there had been no peacekeeping missions approved. There have of course been peacekeeping missions renewed-----

-----but this is too convenient for the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond------

-----to not mention that this is fully functioning. Will the Minister of State please allow me to finish my points, with all the respect that he talked about for debate? I also want to pick up on the issue that the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, raised about us not supporting European Union membership, which is the most preposterous statement for him to make. We, of course, as the Social Democrats, support European Union membership. Moreover, the European Union supports our neutrality. It is the choice of this Go…

He has nobody here to debate this issue.

He says that he respects debate but-----

-----there is no debate happening. Moreover, his respect for debate obviously does not extend to the Irish people. All we are asking for is that this crucial part of our neutrality tradition is simply put to the people. I urge this House again to adopt this motion, put it to the people and defend our triple lock.

I wish to first call out the key role the Law Reform Commission has played in bringing this Bill before us. Its work is not normally or necessarily headline-grabbing but represents a vital and painstaking role in keeping our law under review and researching law with a view to reform. Our Statute Book should be reflective of the laws that govern us and free of historical instruments that simply no longer apply. Making that happen is expert, arduous and technical work and a true act of public service. Táim fíor-bhuío…

I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the debate on international security and trade. I also welcome the way the debate has been framed because these two subjects are inextricably linked. They are competencies that go together. I would say sadly that we all too often we see the elevation of trade, economy and jobs by this Government over commitments I believe we have in the space of security, stability and peace. I am going to speak to that throughout my comments. That inextricable link has always been there.…