Results 1-20 of 5,872 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The weekend of 12 and 13 July is a weekend of commemoration and remembrance. The Royal British Legion's annual event at Islandbridge takes place on 12 July and the Irish commemoration takes place on Sunday, 13 July. As president of the Connaught Rangers Association and a former member of the Royal Irish Rangers, I will be there. I encourage people to be there. As a nation, we have grown...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It was €30 million worth, nonetheless. It is wonderful to see how the security services can work together to stop gun runners and drug runners. The sad thing is that we do not have sufficient naval cover to cover the entire coast.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: This morning at a meeting of the defence committee we heard how Defence Forces personnel take their instructions from the Department and from the Minister when it comes to policy issues. Last week, we had a meeting about the shortage of air traffic controllers and we were assured everything was in hand. I learned over the weekend that the offer of the bounty if you want to remain in service...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Let us never forget about the institutions we are talking about and that the horrific things that took place in these institutions was known far and wide within our society. I remember the great threat as a child was that if you misbehaved, you would find yourself in Letterfrack. People knew that if you went there, you were going to be subjected to brutality, at least, if not other sorts of...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It is not the same letter. There are two different letters. Given what we are talking about and the years and years of pain and suffering, ten minutes of the Seanad's time will not kill anybody.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not going to take a lot of time on this. My colleague, Senator Boyhan, said more than any of us could say. The passion with which he speaks is incredible, and I am proud to call him my friend. Ordinarily, I would be against a motion seeking something to be laid before the House in 12 months, but on this occasion I support this for one reason and one reason only. By looking for it to...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 Jul 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: There is a lot I would like to say but as my colleague, Senator Victor Boyhan, pointed out in his various contributions during the passage of the Bill, we are here to give voice to the voiceless. With the permission of the Cathaoirleach, I have been granted permission to read a letter from Sheila O'Byrne into the record of the Seanad. These are her words, not mine: I Sheila O Byrne, who...

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...

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

Gerard Craughwell: I am aware of the time.

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

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the witnesses. I put on the record that my view of the function of this committee is to listen with an open mind and draw conclusions. We are not here to protect either neutrality or the triple lock. It was accepted by Ray Murphy that we do not qualify under customary international law as a neutral country. Professor Tonra has said that neutrality is Irish neutrality, whatever...