I have not received any apologies. I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that we should not comment on, criticise, or make charges against any person or entity outside the House or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make them in any way identifiable.
Any member acting in substitution for a member of the committee should formally notify the clerk if they have not already done so. Members attending this meeting in accordance with Standing Order 106(3) should be aware that pursuant to that standing order they may move amendments but cannot participate in voting on those amendments. In that regard, I am pleased to welcome Deputy Howlin, who is not a current member of the committee but who is an active participant this afternoon.
This meeting has been convened for consideration of Committee Stage of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was referred to this committee on 2 May. I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, and his officials from the Department of Defence.
I advise that changes have been made to the Bill before publication, following engagement between the Department of Defence and this committee on foot of engagement that this committee had with other stakeholders as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process.
Ordinarily, I might call on the Tánaiste to make an opening statement but, as he has another meeting to attend and as I am conscious of the fact that Thursday afternoon is not our usual slot, I suggest that we go straight to dealing the amendments. Is the Tánaiste okay with that?
