Before I respond to questions on defence, with the understanding of colleagues, I would like to make a brief comment to address media reports about my comments in response to a question last night at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting on defence matters and on the situation in Ukraine. I mentioned this earlier to some Deputies.
Personal Explanation by Minister
We are happy to allow the Minister an opportunity to make his statement.
It is not a statement per se. It is something I would like to raise with the Deputies' accommodation.
I have absolutely no hesitation in expressing my full support and confidence in the Chief of Staff and in his judgment. The Chief of Staff is holding a number of pro forma meetings at the moment with members of the diplomatic corps, as a new Chief of Staff would be expected to do. Those meetings have been set up over many weeks. What I commented on last night in response to a question related to the timing of the meeting with the Russian ambassador and the subsequent tweet drawing attention to it. I have, as Deputies would expect, been fully briefed by the Chief of Staff. I spoke to him again last night. I have absolutely no reservations or questions about his actions. I want to put that on the record. It is not welcome that the Chief of Staff has been brought into public commentary and political debate. I recognise that I made a contribution to allowing that to happen. I would like to correct that this morning, if the House would accept that.