Did he know what he was seconding?

We do not bring in the Minister for Justice and Equality to speak about an assistant Garda Commissioner or a chief superintendent resigning. Similarly, the Senator has never asked for the Minister for Education and Skills to come to the House to discuss the resignation of a school principal or the CEO of an education and training board.

This is about a unit and who is going to command it.

It is not, and the Senator knows that well. If the Senator was to be absolutely honest in his approach to this matter, he knows there are contingency plans in the Defence Forces regarding personnel in many different areas.

I have no knowledge of any contingency plan to fill that vacancy.

In light of that comment, the Senator should withdraw his amendment to the Order of Business-----

Absolutely not.

-----because he is trying to divide the House on an operational matter in which we have no role, duty or responsibility.

We have a duty of care to those who will serve.

The amendment is out of order.

If Senator Craughwell did his homework on the matter, he would know that somebody will be appointed and that the leadership of the Defence Forces is well served in the training of our forces-----

Is the Leader telling me there is somebody ready to go?

I am saying to the Senator that, as a former director of adult education and a Member of the Oireachtas for the past 12 years, dealing with many health matters, there is always a contingency plan.

Is the Leader telling me there is a man or a woman ready to fill the post?

What I am saying to the Senator, and I appeal to his better nature, is that, rather than divide the House on an operational matter for our Defence Forces, he should withdraw his amendment.

The Leader needs to understand that my position was one of concern-----