Results 5,881-5,900 of 5,914 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

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

Gerard Craughwell: With all due respect, are we a sovereign nation?

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

Gerard Craughwell: Does Ms Boylan respect our sovereignty?

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

Gerard Craughwell: But she is happy for somebody else to oversee it.

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

Gerard Craughwell: Sorry now. Ms Boylan sits in the European Parliament-----

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

Gerard Craughwell: Why does she not bring them to heel?

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

Gerard Craughwell: Good.

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

Gerard Craughwell: The Irish troops will not be deployed without the Irish Government.

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

Gerard Craughwell: Sorry to cut in again. The point was made. I am as concerned as any citizen in this country at a rogue Government deploying troops somewhere in the world for some war or other. I have a difficulty using the United Nations Security Council but we are a democratically-elected Parliament. There has been suggestion that there should be a referendum. I put to Mr. Andrews that we hold a...

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

Gerard Craughwell: I do not accept the notion of a firewall. I have never accepted we are a neutral state. We do not fulfil the requirements for neutrality. As Professor Tonra and Ray Murphy said, we do not meet the international law requirement. What is Irish neutrality - it is Irish neutrality. That is it.

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

Gerard Craughwell: Ms Boylan will have to clarify that. That is a very serious comment. Chair, people's reputations have been brought into question. On witnesses who came before this committee, Ms Boylan said unlike others, who have to benefit.

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

Gerard Craughwell: You cannot let that go.

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

Gerard Craughwell: It does not matter, you cannot let it go.

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

Gerard Craughwell: That has to be challenged.

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

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I welcome the witnesses. It is an honour to have people with such distinguished military backgrounds before us. I particularly welcome former Major General O'Brien, who was the highest-ranking female officer in the Defence Forces. She is from the west of Ireland as well, which is not too bad. Mr. Doyle gave us a view of the triple lock. All four witnesses...

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

Gerard Craughwell: Do any of the witnesses see it as in any way undermining the sovereignty of our nation?

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

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Dr. Berry. What does Ms O'Brien think?

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

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Ms O'Brien. I have two questions on the points made by Dr. Berry about evacuation operations, counter-narcotic operations and diplomatic missions. Decisions in these areas are usually made at very notice. As an example, I am delighted our Naval Service captured €30 million worth of drugs today. All the witnesses have commanded. To make a decision to deploy for a drug...

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

Gerard Craughwell: Because my time is limited I want to ask Dr. Berry about the other parts of the Bill because we will not get a chance to hear from him again. Dr. Berry adverted to suspensions and courts martial in his report. Will he expand on that a little?

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

Gerard Craughwell: I want to raise three short, sharp issues. I need three things cleared up. The first is directed to Major General O’Brien. On the issue of defence attachés, which covers the expansion of roles, it was suggested by the Department of Defence that a defence attaché could be a civilian. Is she aware of any civilian anywhere who is acting as a defence attaché?

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

Gerard Craughwell: Major General Brennan, in his submission, referred to Defence Forces regulations and Defence Forces legislation. Is it the case that the Defence Forces are ultimately subordinate to the Department of Defence? Regarding things like suspensions, we had a very high-profile case of a soldier who had to be put on gardening leave, or whatever you want to call it. The commander on the ground had...