Results 221-240 of 6,465 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I will intervene here briefly. We need to be careful in referencing people who are not present. There is scope, if political representatives make comments, it is legitimate to assess them and what that means in terms of the position of particular political parties. I ask all speakers to be careful in commenting on people who are not here. The Senator has made his point that he feels it...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Does Dr. Devine want to reply?

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 9. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made on the implementation of the rulings of the adjudicator and arbitration board regarding the prohibition of the appointment holder of the director of military prosecutions from being a member of a representative association; if he will implement those rulings immediately by amending the relevant terms and conditions and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 14. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of residential Defence Forces buildings that are currently not habitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31326/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 18. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider the introduction of service commitment schemes to retain key specialist functions within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31324/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (12 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress his Department has made regarding the establishment of a joint cybersecurity command and other actions related to cybersecurity contained in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [31325/25]

Ending the Central Bank’s Facilitation of the Sale of Israel Bonds: Motion [Private Members] (11 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: What is happening in Gaza now is undoubtedly genocide and I welcome the fact the Government is now using that language. This is the position of the Government as articulated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and it is important to remember that. In my lifetime, I cannot remember such scenes as we are witnessing in Gaza. Children are being left without families and children are...

Vacant Council Housing: Motion [Private Members] (10 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: We just had statements on the report of the Housing Commission. We hear all sorts of arguments about how this is complicated, we need to do this and how there are multiple factors at play. We are talking about 2,500 apartments and houses that the State already owns. They are there. They are empty. Of all the low-hanging fruit in terms of the housing crisis, surely the 2,500 houses and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Relations (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 167. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on Ireland's engagements with the EU regarding draft reciprocal trade tariffs. [27401/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 165. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on his engagements with the EU-Israel Association Council, following the recent meeting of the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27400/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 163. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on his Department's recent engagements with the Government of Ukraine in respect of the ongoing conflict and efforts made to reach a ceasefire. [27399/25]

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I do not agree with everything Senator Craughwell said, but the issues relating to the Air Corps are extremely urgent and need to be addressed. As a committee we should be looking at that. I hope the witnesses will return to discuss that with us. I echo the point made by Senator Clonan. It is clear that this is the end of the triple lock. I have not heard any rebuttal of that point....

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is clear with regard to an international force. The legislation and the triple lock govern how troops are deployed in the context of international forces and the initiative in respect of an Irish-only deployment is a different matter. Is that fair to say?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The example has been given frequently of humanitarian evacuation and that it is somehow is prevented. If that is not happening as part of an international force - in some instances perhaps it does - but is exclusively Irish-led, how is that prevented by the triple lock?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Okay, very well. It is in the same legislation. Is Ms Maguire saying the triple lock does not prevent Irish Defence Forces personnel being deployed in a humanitarian evacuation?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is the legal position. At present, there are no obstacles to that being done. That brings me back to the point that the argument frequently being made on the triple lock by the Government is that change is needed for the reason of humanitarian evacuation and drug interdiction missions. Why do the Department and the Minister not simply bring forward a Bill to dealt with that rather...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: If we were debating legislation like that I am not sure it would be terribly controversial. There would be broad support for legislation that clarifies the entitlement of Ireland. I am not sure, in some instances, it is entirely necessarily. If it was believed to be necessary in the context of humanitarian rescue, drug interdiction and related matters, that would receive broad support....

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Government will be the arbiter.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is the same Government that wants to deploy.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am not totally satisfied regarding the assessment of the risk that Ireland is being potentially exposed to in terms of international pressure. Has that been part of the conversation within the Department or with the Minister?