Results 19,581-19,600 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Commandant King for his comprehensive, lengthy and all-embracing presentation for which we are very grateful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will give Deputy Brady another two minutes. I am anxious to bring in other members. If we can deal with the questions smartly and concisely, there will be time for a second round. I ask Deputy Brady to proceed accordingly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Brady for his co-operation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senator Craughwell. As I said to Deputy Brady, I may well be in a position to have a second round. If so, I would be happy to revert to Senator Craughwell. I am conscious that there is a large number of questions for Commandant King, covering a wide range of issues. I am conscious also that there are a number of members who are anxious to come in. I will take a contribution from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I now invite Commandant King to address the many questions put by members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I am conscious of the time at this stage. I know the RACO representatives want to deal with some of the questions from Senator O'Reilly. I am keen to bring in members who have not been in yet. I have an indication from Deputy Brady that he has a brief and direct supplementary question. I will give him 30 seconds and then proceed to Deputy Berry and Deputy Clarke. Deputy Brady has a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I call on Commandant King to address that and respond to Senator O'Reilly. Then we will go back to Deputy Berry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I ask the witnesses to be conscious of the time in their replies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I am conscious of the time and ask Mr. Priestley to be brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will move to a conclusion but, as I do, I cannot but remark on the very pessimistic nature and bleak picture that has been painted to the committee this afternoon. This is a matter of some concern to us as committee members. I echo what Deputy Berry said on our role and function and our engagement with the Department of Defence. This is a very timely meeting because it takes place...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will call on Commandant King to reply and give the committee a final message. I thank the delegation for being with us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I must pull the curtain down.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: RACO (29 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Commandant King, Lieutenant Colonel Derek Priestley and Commandant Luke Foley for their engagement with us. They have given us some work to do and we will undertake to do that. We await the end of the year and the report from the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Pre-Budget Submission: Dóchas (14 Jul 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Everybody is welcome. I am pleased to welcome Ms Suzanne Keatinge, CEO of Dóchas, and Ms Caoimhe de Barra, CEO of Trócaire. A special welcome to Ms Gloria Soma, director of the Titi Foundation in South Sudan, who is joining us from Sudan. I also welcome Mr. Dominic MacSorley, CEO of Concern Worldwide, who is no stranger to development matters. They are very welcome to our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Pre-Budget Submission: Dóchas (14 Jul 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Ms Soma. Mr. MacSorley may begin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Pre-Budget Submission: Dóchas (14 Jul 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. MacSorley and his colleagues for a comprehensive overview. I now turn to members of the committee. I have received apologies for an inability to attend from Deputy Brady and Senator Ó Donnghaile. This 9.30 a.m. slot on Wednesday is not one to which we are accustomed but, as I said earlier, we were very keen to accommodate Ms Keatinge and the team during our last week's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Pre-Budget Submission: Dóchas (14 Jul 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you, Senator. I call Deputy Leddin, who brings some practical experience of these issues to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Pre-Budget Submission: Dóchas (14 Jul 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you for your attendance, Senator. I will refer to Ms Keatinge now. There were a number of questions from members which I ask Ms Keatinge to distribute among our guests as appropriate. I will briefly add to the questions that were asked by members. Reference was made to Ireland's leadership role on the sustainable development goals. Earlier this year, shortly after Christmas, we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Pre-Budget Submission: Dóchas (14 Jul 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Ms Keatinge and her colleagues. We now move towards next steps. I thank members for their proposals. I acknowledge the proposal from Deputy Stanton that we would write to the Government. I take it that it is agreed. Ms Keatinge mentioned that we could write to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, who is not our line Minister, but I acknowledge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Pre-Budget Submission: Dóchas (14 Jul 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Yes. That point has been made and we will take it on board. If we are agreed on that I will move to Ms Keatinge's proposals that the Government might engage in prior to the budget. I ask for an endorsement of these proposals from committee members. The first is an increase in Ireland's official development aid assistance to ensure we keep pace with global needs now and in the post-Covid...