Results 2,141-2,160 of 10,843 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: There is a role in the Golan Heights.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Chair for her indulgence.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: 55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of Defence Forces members posted to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights; the current timeframe for the withdrawal of the Defence Forces' infantry group from this mission; the number of Defence Forces personnel who will remain posted to this mission thereafter; and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I want to return to what is one of the more disappointing developments in the history of the Defence Forces, particularly its contemporary history. This is the decision to withdraw members from the UNDOF peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights. I would appreciate it if the Tánaiste would outline the current timeframe for the withdrawal of the infantry group from this mission and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: On that point, while I am a great believer in and advocate for peace in the Middle East, I would not advocate sending our troops there without a UN mandate. That is a debate for another day perhaps.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: 50. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members that left the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps in 2023; the number of new members recruited to each; the current membership of the Defence Forces; and the projected numbers by year-end 2024. [2989/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I ask the Minister for Defence the number of members who left the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps last year; the number of new members who were recruited; and therefore the current membership of each branch of the Defence Forces.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I am sure the Tánaiste will accept that those figures are incredibly concerning. When this Government came into office, it inherited a crisis in terms of the numbers in the Defence Forces. The numbers at that point were 8,659. When the Tánaiste assumed the role of Minister, that number had reduced to 7,966. If I recall the figure he gave correctly, it now stands at 7,550. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: The Tánaiste indicated that he does not think the Defence Forces are ambitious enough in their targets. I would make the same charge of the Government. In budget 2023, funding was provided to allow the recruitment of an additional 400 personnel, but that did not happen. In fact, as I said, the numbers actually went down further. This year, however, the funding provided in 2024...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: Does the Tánaiste accept that an additional 400 members, which would not even bring numbers up to where they were at this time last year, is not sufficient either? We are talking about the need to be more ambitious in our hopes and aspirations for the Defence Forces. Yes, we need the Defence Forces but, in the first instance, we need to see leadership and vision from the Government,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: The numbers speak for themselves.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: 49. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the timeframe in which he intends to bring forward proposals to remove the triple lock neutrality protection; when he expects the legislation to be enacted; and which missions he envisages the Defence Forces participating in from which they are currently preluded. [2988/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: What is the timeframe in which the Tánaiste intends to bring forward his regrettable proposals to remove the triple lock neutrality protection? When does he expect the legislation to be enacted? Will he outline on this occasion the missions in which he envisages the Defence Forces will participate from which they are currently precluded?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I still cannot get my head around how the Tánaiste can use the phrase "irrespective of whether" a mission is led by the UN or another body. We all know that under international law and the UN charter, it is UN-approved missions that have the status of peacekeeping missions. Otherwise, anybody could describe any military mission as a peacekeeping one.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: In fact, some very aggressive military hostilities, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have been framed in the terms of peacemaking or peacekeeping, and there is a reason there is a UN framework in place to set that out. The Tánaiste outlined that there will be Oireachtas approval. Will he assure us there will be no attempt at any stage to either guillotine or minimise any...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I remind the Tánaiste the UN has sanctioned a peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights for which our Defence Forces have quite rightly earned widespread praise for the way and the manner in which they have conducted themselves, and I would argue that peacekeeping mission is more important now than ever. We are withdrawing from that peacekeeping mission, not at the behest of Vladimir...

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: Tánaiste, that remark was entirely unbecoming of you, if I may say so. Your approach on this issue has sometimes been found wanting. Every single time Sinn Féin has tried to secure an initiative from the Government we have liaised with the Government. On the contrary, the Tánaiste's approach is to announce at 12 noon through the media that he is going to bring forward a...

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: The Tánaiste has had enough time, he has had 20 minutes, and I am going to outline what is a very unfair characterisation by him of genuine attempts of Members of this House to ensure Ireland takes a stand and that Ireland shows leadership-----

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: -----in defence of international law, in defence of international humanitarian law and in defence of the UN Charter.

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: The question people are asking now, quite rightly, is "How many more?". How many more debates do we need to have, how many more statements do we need to have, how many more motions do we need to bring before this House? More importantly, how many more Palestinians need to be murdered because currently we are at over 25,000? That is essentially 1% of the entire population of Gaza. How...