National security responsibility
A prolonged row followed over who is responsible for national security and defence oversight, with Senators Wilson and Craughwell challenging the Leader and the Chair repeatedly restoring order. The Leader maintained the issue had been deferred and was properly handled through the relevant ministerial channels and the defence debate.
On a point of information, let us be realistic about this-----
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I have just introduced it into the vocabulary of the House. The matter is the responsibility of the Minister of State at the Department of Defence.
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Senator Buttimer should check his facts.
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I did. When Senator Craughwell raised-----
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Is Senator Buttimer saying the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for the Department of Defence?
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On a point of information for the House-----
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On a point of order, then-----
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There is no single authority with responsibility for the security of the State. The National Security Committee comprises four Department Secretaries General, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and the Garda Commissioner. Therefore, I agree with Senator Wilson that matters of military-----
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The matter is one for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and I have answered-----
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The matter can be dealt with when the Senators meet officials of the Department of Defence.
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I responded to Senator Craughwell on the matter yesterday and, to be fair to Senators Craughwell and Wilson, at their request, we deferred the debate on defence, as Senator Wilson acknowledged. I am happy to have the debate when we can get the Minister before the House because-----