Results 21-40 of 5,864 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Report Stage (25 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: My colleagues previously spoke about education and the withdrawal of the service after three years. Having an advocacy group like Sage means that the door is open. It is a one-stop-shop where the victims of institutional abuse can go to get the information they need and perhaps engage in education and many other things. Some time ago, I brought a delegation from the Organisation of...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. The Secretary General, the Chief of Staff, the GOC and other staff are welcome here. I ask the Secretary General that we start by being honest with one another. The policies that have been followed have been a disaster for the aviation services in our Defence Forces. We have lost search and rescue, we have a private operator providing a jet at Dublin...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It is there.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The question is there now. It needs to be answered.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry, I do not want to interrupt the Secretary General unnecessarily but I want to know if the Minister was informed as far back as 2022.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Does the Secretary General want me to read her own letter?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The Secretary General expressed doubt herself. She referred to the fact that air traffic control would be problem.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Absolutely. I acquired the letter through freedom of information and I published it when I got it, so it is in the public domain.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: That is not the point. I am asking the Secretary General because she knew there was a problem coming.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The Secretary General knew there was a problem. That was March 2021. Then in December 2021 she was aware of the fact the joint working group saw a crisis coming and she was required under terms of reference to inform the Minister. Did she inform the Minister?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The Secretary General warned it was coming.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: When we talk about risk - and maybe the Secretary General will not be able to answer this and the GOC will - there is a requirement with respect to the management of our airspace. There is a military-civilian airspace. Has there been engagement between the Department and the Irish Aviation Authority or AirNav Ireland, as I think it now is? Has it been informed of the situation?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Is there a problem with respect to Bristow being located now within military airspace? Is that problem being dealt with? Where are we with that?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I will make a last point because my time is running out. There was mention of the purchase of four helicopters. The Garda went to public tender for its helicopters and bought them at about €12.5 million to €16 million. The Defence Forces did not go to public tender and purchased them directly. My understanding is they are costing €28 million each. Where is the policy...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I am wondering should it not have gone to tender, in the view of the witnesses.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The Secretary General said in March 2021 that if the Department was to buy helicopters for SAR it would be through public procurement tender which would take a long period of time. Despite this it went and bought four helicopters without a tender.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Taxpayers' money has not changed.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It is taxpayers' money the Department is spending.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I will put all my questions and then ask the witnesses to respond. First, we were aware of an impending crisis back in 2021 and it became an actual crisis in October 2024. When was the Minister informed of the crisis? Why has it taken until June 2025 to deal with it? On specialist pay, all air traffic controllers are to be commissioned. I understand grade 6 pay, or tech pay 6, is not...