asked the Minister for Defence when the work of the Defence Commission is expected to conclude; and when their findings will be published.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Commission Report.
18.
(Limerick West): The work of the Defence Review Committee is proceeding and I hope that it will be completed some time later in the year. Regarding publication of the review, I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 14, 17 and 22 on 16 March 1988.
I should like to ask the Minister if the terms of reference of the commission were published.
(Limerick West): No.
Is it intended to publish the findings of the commission?
(Limerick West): That will be a matter for the Government but usually such reports are not published.
Is there any reason for what appears to me to be an undue amount of secrecy surrounding the work of the commission in that neither their terms of reference were published and, it appears, their findings will not be published?
(Limerick West): That is not unusual.
Will the Minister inform the House of the terms of reference of the commission and, if not, why not?
(Limerick West): It is not usual to make public the terms of reference of such a commission.
Why?
(Limerick West): It is not normal practice for security reasons.
Arising out of his last reply I should like to ask the Minister, although I expect his answer will be as before, if it is the intention to make the findings of the commission available to Members of the Oireachtas. For example, in Britain a special parliamentary committee have responsibility for defence but we do not have any such committee. Is there any way that Members could have the findings of the commission made available to them?
(Limerick West): When the report is completed it will be presented to the Government and it will be a matter for them as to whether it will be published.