Results 41-60 of 5,536 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: While Dr. McDonagh is thinking there can I come in with two supplementaries? One is the lack of an intelligence committee in the Oireachtas. He seems to feel that that is a serious deficiency in our oversight. The second question is: as academics, have the witnesses ever been brought into a central forum by any government and asked to lay out what their priorities and research might be to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I have a short input to make. I get worried when I hear people mixing overseas development aid and neutrality. I am looking here at 2013 to 2022. Some €2,236.55 billion was pumped into ten states as overseas development aid. When I look at the states in question and the military armament they have, they have viable air forces and viable navies and massive tanks, personnel carriers...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not going to argue with the Chair on that.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: The marine services serving Ireland are a vitally important part of our import and export trade.Our major harbours are served by pilots. Our pilots have no set of qualifications that they must adhere to. They have been looking for qualifications and training commensurate with what is available at other European ports but there is nobody interested in driving forward the professionalism of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: What?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Very good. We might have a debate on hygiene, particularly for those working in hospitals. The Cathaoirleach has to shout when speaking to me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Tánaiste for a very comprehensive report. I found it very down to earth. It covered many areas that it is time we covered in the open. I ask the Tánaiste to ask his Department to draft a briefing document for Members of the Oireachtas which explains exactly what neutrality is. Quite frankly, I am tired of being overseas and hearing people talk about Paddy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: They border on defence but I think they fit more into the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: That is fine. I will accept that. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Does the Tánaiste mind if I just finish up on Mozambique-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: If you look at Mozambique, it has 60 battle tanks, 417 personnel carriers, 24 military aircraft and 30 ships at sea.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Maybe it should cut back on the number of aircraft it has and educate its own.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I understand that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I am going to come in very quickly-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: The Tánaiste might not be able to answer these questions straight away. I am happy for him to come back on them. The first relates to the Secretary General being a member of the external oversight body. There has been quite an extensive debate on the matter here. There is a conflict of interest. It was confirmed by the chairman of the external oversight body that there would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I know, but he is here as Minister for Defence as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: That is fair enough. The second matter to which I wish to refer is the triple lock. I sincerely hope we will be successful in removing that. If we are, I ask the Tánaiste to look at the possibility of Ireland joining the joint expeditionary force, the purpose of which is to protect the North Atlantic and the assets in the North Atlantic. I am going to cede the remainder of my...

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I also congratulate the Minister of State on her elevation to Minister of State with responsibility for defence and European Affairs. As a proud European, I would love to be here speaking on the great things membership of the EU has delivered for Ireland. Sadly, I must devote time to the growing perception of Ireland as a nation of freeloaders weakening Europe and seen as the open back door...

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I did not interrupt Senator Ward.

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: We need to back away from our Paddy neutrality and become serious about real neutrality. Our negligence in all matters of defence and security will in the heel of the hunt damage Ireland's attractiveness for FDI and, once lost, it will take years to retrieve. I regret having to point out that the Minister of State's portfolio includes defence yet we are told that she has no role in...