Govt accused of preventing debate on new Defence Act
28/06/2006 - 14:11:52The Green Party has accused the Government of seeking to push the new Defence Act through the Dáil without any debate ahead of the upcoming summer recess.
The law will allow Irish soldiers to enter conflict situations with EU "battlegroups" being set up to respond to global emergencies.
The Green Party says the legislation allows this to be done without the full backing of the Dáil and the United Nations, which flies in the face of Irish policy on foreign military deployments.
The party is accusing Defence Minister Willie O'Dea of trying to force the new laws through the Dáil because he realises the controversy it would cause to have the matter debated in public.
