Results 221-240 of 275 for speaker:Tom Brabazon

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: The veto would have the same effect, whether it is vetoed by China, Russia, the UK, the US or France.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: The situation would potentially be destabilised further.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: That is grand, thanks. Mr. Kelly mentioned he would like to see a referendum to enshrine neutrality. If a wording were agreed, the people were agreeable to it and it was passed and became part of the Constitution, would Mr. Kelly be in any way worried about the triple lock legislation in that context?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: Mr. Kelly uses the word "implicit". One of the witnesses at last week's meeting, Mr. Joe Noonan, who is a legal specialist in this area, confirmed to the committee that the courts have recognised, implicitly, our neutrality.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: That is what Mr. Noonan says and he is the one who held himself to be an expert in this area, from a legal perspective. For argument's sake, and I know this is not the position either of the witnesses adopt, if the triple lock were to be gone in the morning, can they suggest alternative safeguards Ireland could put in place to protect our position as neutrals?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: I thank the witnesses.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: My question has already been put and I am not going to put it a second time.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: I have been putting one question to a number of witnesses on the triple lock issue. If we came up with an acceptable wording that was put to the people about enshrining neutrality in our Constitution and that was passed, would the same concerns around the triple lock manifest?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: The conflagration in the Middle East has become wider than Israel and Gaza. It now involves Israel, Iran, Russia and potentially China and others behind Iran and the US and UK coming in behind Israel. Both sides are on the Security Council and either of them could decide to use Ireland as a pawn in the bigger game and say it will veto the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate, which is required...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: I thank all of the witnesses for their contributions and presentations this morning. It is clear a significant amount of military experience is present in the room. While we have heard previously from academics, the practitioners of a field are probably more important than the academics. A lot of weight should be given to what the witnesses have said and the evidence they have given to the...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: Some of the narrative in respect of what is proposed claims our neutrality and triple lock will be removed and that, accordingly, young Irish women and men will be engaged in imperialist combat around the world. What do the witnesses have to say about that?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: Dr. Brennan has a lot of experience interacting with both the UN and the Government. Does he trust that no Irish Government would run headlong into such a scenario?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: They are not my fears.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: Yes. Neutrality has been part of our core. It is one of those things that gives us international appeal for our peacekeeping troops. This is something that has been said. If we found some kind of legal wording to amend the Constitution to add in a wording that prevented us from becoming aligned to military alliances other than the UN, such as NATO – there seems to be a lot of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (1 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the renovation of the science laboratory at a school (details supplied); when works will commence; and the engagement her Department has had with the school in relation on this project. [35604/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (1 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 670. To ask the Minister for Health the actions her Department is taking to increase the availability of GPs in the Dublin 13 area. [35192/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (2 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 63. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department is considering increasing the maximum property purchase price under the help-to-buy scheme. [36552/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (2 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 64. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering expanding the help to buy scheme to include second hand homes. [36555/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (2 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 65. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering introducing a tax credit for first-time buyers to assist with legal, survey and valuation costs. [36556/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (2 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will put out a contract for the provision of mobile tea, coffee and light refreshments service at Casino Marino, Dublin 3, in time for the 2026 season. [36504/25]