Results 5,961-5,980 of 5,982 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not going to argue. It will be no surprise to the Taoiseach to learn that I am going to speak about defence. I compliment him on what he did as Minister for Defence in the previous Government. The policies he put in place have seen green shoots emerge, nowhere more so than in his constituency in Cork. The Naval Service is turning the corner and I compliment him on that. In the...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: We need to look at those things urgently.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Civil Defence and the Office of Emergency Planning: Discussion (16 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the witnesses who have come in here today. Normally, I have a list of things that I want to complain about when I meet witnesses coming before this committee but I have to compliment both the Office of Emergency Planning and Civil Defence on the work they do. If I may, I will single out Civil Defence as a former member myself and, indeed, a manpack qualified member. I used to train...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Before Ireland joined the EU, emigration was a defining part of the Irish identity. Over 10 million Irish people, more than the current population of Ireland, have left this island since 1800, driven by famine, poverty and lack of opportunity. Irish emigrants have flooded into Britain, America, Australia and beyond. They were not always welcome. Irish people were once thrown out of pubs,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I had intended to speak on housing, but I will defer that until 4 November because of two things. First, I congratulate the Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, for turning up at Citywest last night and supporting his people on the ground. What we saw was a despicable act of thuggery, the likes of which I thought we would never see in this country again. People were firing rockets at members...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I know it has been a long afternoon for the Minister. His remarks that he is willing to have a look to see what changes he might make were promising and encouraging. Senator McDowell referred to the impact on families. In his response a little while ago, the Minister made the point that, where a Garda investigation is taking place into an individual, it is in the public interest for that...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It is a criminal offence and yet we see the term "Garda sources" in the media constantly. In that particular story, three or four Garda sources were quoted without naming any. Of course, if you were to take a criminal case against that particular publication, it would claim journalistic privilege. The journalist would say that he or she is not releasing his or her sources but that he or...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It did last week.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister said that those on social media would never accuse somebody of being a child abuser. I was accused of being a child abuser.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I was.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: In recent weeks, I was also accused of being responsible for the deaths of 50,000 babies, which is why I closed down my Twitter account completely.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Maybe I misread what the Minister said. In the context of social media, and I know that is coming later, you contact the likes of Twitter, make a complaint and find that the most outrageous things are not against its rules. The bottom line is that I have no interest in Twitter any more. On the impact that wild statements have on families, yesterday I brought up the issue of migration in...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The witnesses mentioned the Constitution and neutrality. There is nothing in our Constitution about neutrality nor is there any law. Am I right?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Fire away.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Regarding SAFE, we are the most defenceless country in Europe. A total of €150 billion was available from which this country could have drawn down funds to help it. Who prevented it? Who stopped us applying?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Reference was made to the support we have provided to Ukraine. Where two belligerents are having a barney, like what is going on between Russia and Ukraine, the definition of neutrality is that one takes no side. How do the witnesses square the circle of our being neutral or militarily non-aligned, whichever way we want to define ourselves, with providing that training? I do not disagree...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: In essence, the State is helping one belligerent. Is that not right?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Our democracy requires that a change of policy that places this country in peril should have come before the Parliament. It was never debated in Parliament; it was simply announced. I do not want to spend too long on this but the fact is we are either neutral or militarily non-aligned or we are not. If we are helping one belligerent - and, by the way, I believe we should be honestly...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I will use them to ask one of my remaining questions. Mr. O'Meara mentioned military mobility several times in his statement. To which specific mobility is he referring? Is it armoured fighting vehicles, armoured reconnaissance vehicles, air transport lift capacity or something else?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I propose to list a number of questions because we are tight on time but I want the answers. If the witnesses cannot deliver them today, will they provide them afterwards? The EU strategic compass for security and defence was agreed in 2022. It was, as Mr. O'Meara referred to in his opening statement, a high-level policy initiative. From recent briefings and discussions I have been...