Senator Gerard P. Craughwell has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence attend the House to deal with a matter concerning the Defence Forces." Is the Senator pressing his amendment?

I very much respect the efforts of the Leader to keep the business of the House going and acknowledge the fact that the Taoiseach cannot be dragged here at the drop of a hat, but this is not about the individual case mentioned but about the Department's disregard for the role of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces.

The Taoiseach chose the Department of Defence as his ministry and that is part of the problem. He is so busy these guys are running away with themselves.

We cannot reopen the debate.

I will not press the issue to a vote now.

The Senator has the option of raising the matter again.

I assume that the Labour Party will be raising it again next week.