Results 6,341-6,360 of 6,433 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (24 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 802. To ask the Minister for Health the number of nursing home beds the HSE held in private nursing homes in Cork, in each of the past five years, including 2025. [33929/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (24 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 803. To ask the Minister for Health the number of publicly funded medical emergency nursing home beds the HSE held in private nursing homes in Cork, in each of the past five years, including 2025. [33930/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive (24 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 804. To ask the Minister for Health the number of publicly funded respite beds the HSE had in private nursing homes in Cork, in each of the past five years, including 2025. [33931/25]

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I apologise to Mr. Noonan but I am conscious of my time and I have another question. I will put it more directly. He does believe that potentially constitutional issues arise.

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I support my colleague. I well understand why Waterford people might want to come to Cork. I do not think we should deprive them of that opportunity at all. Any time there is a debate on rail infrastructure, there is a fair bit of interest right across the country. That reflects a significant shift in people's mentality in the last 20 or 30 years. If we go back 50 or 60 years or even...

Middle East: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Like most political representatives, one of the first things I do when I get up in the morning is to check the news headlines. It is a grim reality that on any given day for the past year and a half it is almost a certainty that we will wake up to fresh horrors from Gaza and Palestine. One could nearly set one's watch by it, it is that deplorably consistent in terms of the horrors we are...

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I welcome the witnesses, as well as Mr. Roger Cole. My first question has been partially answered. The Peace and Neutrality Alliance submission underlines very clearly its view that the legislation as currently framed - and we are dealing with the general scheme rather than the full legislation - could conceivably be unconstitutional. Could the witnesses expand on that? There has been...

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There was a discussion about our situation with the Defence Forces and it is welcome to have that discussion. It is not strictly precluded by that. However, I welcome the interest of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives, given the neglect of the Defence Forces under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments in recent years that have let us get to the situation, where there are...

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: One of the types of missions that it is most likely Irish troops would be sent on in the event of the removal of the triple lock would be an EU-led mission. Would that be fair to say?

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Yes, but under a UN mandate. I understand. Would Mr. Andrews be confident that the institutions of the EU, including the treaties, are robust enough to ensure that EU missions without a UN mandate would be human rights compliant and would not be involved in acts of aggression or anything like that?

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am not.

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Yes, perfect. My next question is for Ms Boylan. The EU could deploy without a UN mandate but it is bound by its treaties and so on. In her experience, is the EU and its Commission currently abiding by the rules of the treaties?

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Is it fair to say, however, that at times the European Commission has not abided by its own treaties? At times, it has disregarded the rules.

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Perfect. My next question is for both witnesses. I was unimpressed with Commissioner Kallas's comments. I recognise and am happy to say that her country suffered oppression during the 20th century under the Soviet Union. I have no problem saying that whatsoever, but it was wrong of her to denigrate what was experienced in Ireland. She used that to strike out against Ireland's policy of...

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: In this instance, it was specific to neutrality, rather than defence spending.

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am glad to hear that.

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: In that context, there is certainly an attitude that it is a questionable policy. Given that EU battle groups can be deployed within five days, do the witnesses think Ireland could come under considerable pressure to deploy as a battle group in the absence of the triple lock?

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Why does Mr. Andrews not believe it will?

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I will not be around for the second round.

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Go raibh maith agaibh. First, I thank the witnesses for their service over many years. While I do not agree with everything contained in their statements their contributions were very considerable and quite remarkable. They have clearly led very distinguished careers and the committee is very grateful. There is a bit of a talking point, more generally, about whether the triple lock is...