Results 8,681-8,700 of 10,944 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: And we do.

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: We do.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: 49. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the timeframe in which he intends to bring forward proposals to remove the triple lock neutrality protection; when he expects the legislation to be enacted; and which missions he envisages the Defence Forces participating in from which they are currently preluded. [2988/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: What is the timeframe in which the Tánaiste intends to bring forward his regrettable proposals to remove the triple lock neutrality protection? When does he expect the legislation to be enacted? Will he outline on this occasion the missions in which he envisages the Defence Forces will participate from which they are currently precluded?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I still cannot get my head around how the Tánaiste can use the phrase "irrespective of whether" a mission is led by the UN or another body. We all know that under international law and the UN charter, it is UN-approved missions that have the status of peacekeeping missions. Otherwise, anybody could describe any military mission as a peacekeeping one.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: In fact, some very aggressive military hostilities, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have been framed in the terms of peacemaking or peacekeeping, and there is a reason there is a UN framework in place to set that out. The Tánaiste outlined that there will be Oireachtas approval. Will he assure us there will be no attempt at any stage to either guillotine or minimise any...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I remind the Tánaiste the UN has sanctioned a peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights for which our Defence Forces have quite rightly earned widespread praise for the way and the manner in which they have conducted themselves, and I would argue that peacekeeping mission is more important now than ever. We are withdrawing from that peacekeeping mission, not at the behest of Vladimir...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: On that point, while I am a great believer in and advocate for peace in the Middle East, I would not advocate sending our troops there without a UN mandate. That is a debate for another day perhaps.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: 50. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members that left the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps in 2023; the number of new members recruited to each; the current membership of the Defence Forces; and the projected numbers by year-end 2024. [2989/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I ask the Minister for Defence the number of members who left the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps last year; the number of new members who were recruited; and therefore the current membership of each branch of the Defence Forces.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I am sure the Tánaiste will accept that those figures are incredibly concerning. When this Government came into office, it inherited a crisis in terms of the numbers in the Defence Forces. The numbers at that point were 8,659. When the Tánaiste assumed the role of Minister, that number had reduced to 7,966. If I recall the figure he gave correctly, it now stands at 7,550. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: The Tánaiste indicated that he does not think the Defence Forces are ambitious enough in their targets. I would make the same charge of the Government. In budget 2023, funding was provided to allow the recruitment of an additional 400 personnel, but that did not happen. In fact, as I said, the numbers actually went down further. This year, however, the funding provided in 2024...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: Does the Tánaiste accept that an additional 400 members, which would not even bring numbers up to where they were at this time last year, is not sufficient either? We are talking about the need to be more ambitious in our hopes and aspirations for the Defence Forces. Yes, we need the Defence Forces but, in the first instance, we need to see leadership and vision from the Government,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: The numbers speak for themselves.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: 55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of Defence Forces members posted to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights; the current timeframe for the withdrawal of the Defence Forces' infantry group from this mission; the number of Defence Forces personnel who will remain posted to this mission thereafter; and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I want to return to what is one of the more disappointing developments in the history of the Defence Forces, particularly its contemporary history. This is the decision to withdraw members from the UNDOF peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights. I would appreciate it if the Tánaiste would outline the current timeframe for the withdrawal of the infantry group from this mission and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: Whatever way the Tánaiste tries to justify this, he should not try to justify it as an example of flexibility. Far from it being a sign of flexibility, this goes to the core of the weakness of the Defence Forces as a result of the actions of successive Governments. I can see it is logical for a Minister to say that "circumstances must" and, in order to fulfil other commitments we have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: -----that has a UN mandate and we are withdrawing from that. Does the Tánaiste acknowledge it is a regrettable position that we have to withdraw and that it would be better if we had the capacity, if we are to take his other rationale at face value, to continue operating in this mission? Does he accept that?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: I asked the Tánaiste whether he had considered the position we are in. Accepting the Tánaiste's rationale that we have to do this, I contend it would have been much better had that decision not been made. It is crucially important if for no other reason than just imagining a hypothetical scenario where a peacekeeping mission is going to Gaza. I am sure whichever body was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Matt Carthy: -----but there is an important mission in the Golan Heights. Does the Tánaiste accept it is important? Does he accept it would be better if Ireland were able to continue participating in it? Those are the questions I have asked.