Results 21-40 of 5,995 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Maybe I misread what the Minister said. In the context of social media, and I know that is coming later, you contact the likes of Twitter, make a complaint and find that the most outrageous things are not against its rules. The bottom line is that I have no interest in Twitter any more. On the impact that wild statements have on families, yesterday I brought up the issue of migration in...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The witnesses mentioned the Constitution and neutrality. There is nothing in our Constitution about neutrality nor is there any law. Am I right?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Fire away.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Regarding SAFE, we are the most defenceless country in Europe. A total of €150 billion was available from which this country could have drawn down funds to help it. Who prevented it? Who stopped us applying?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Reference was made to the support we have provided to Ukraine. Where two belligerents are having a barney, like what is going on between Russia and Ukraine, the definition of neutrality is that one takes no side. How do the witnesses square the circle of our being neutral or militarily non-aligned, whichever way we want to define ourselves, with providing that training? I do not disagree...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: In essence, the State is helping one belligerent. Is that not right?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Our democracy requires that a change of policy that places this country in peril should have come before the Parliament. It was never debated in Parliament; it was simply announced. I do not want to spend too long on this but the fact is we are either neutral or militarily non-aligned or we are not. If we are helping one belligerent - and, by the way, I believe we should be honestly...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I will use them to ask one of my remaining questions. Mr. O'Meara mentioned military mobility several times in his statement. To which specific mobility is he referring? Is it armoured fighting vehicles, armoured reconnaissance vehicles, air transport lift capacity or something else?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I propose to list a number of questions because we are tight on time but I want the answers. If the witnesses cannot deliver them today, will they provide them afterwards? The EU strategic compass for security and defence was agreed in 2022. It was, as Mr. O'Meara referred to in his opening statement, a high-level policy initiative. From recent briefings and discussions I have been...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes, but we did not keep the differentials. As a result, when someone becomes a corporal, there is not a great increase in salary.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: We are being seen as freeloading on the member that is using SAFE money to buy military equipment. The Irish come in behind and avail of the cheap price without having taken out the loan. They buy what they can afford. It is like going into Tesco and standing beside someone at the checkout and asking, "Do you mind if I throw my pint of milk beside yours?". It is outrageous that we did not...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Before Ireland joined the EU, emigration was a defining part of the Irish identity. Over 10 million Irish people, more than the current population of Ireland, have left this island since 1800, driven by famine, poverty and lack of opportunity. Irish emigrants have flooded into Britain, America, Australia and beyond. They were not always welcome. Irish people were once thrown out of pubs,...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not going to argue. It will be no surprise to the Taoiseach to learn that I am going to speak about defence. I compliment him on what he did as Minister for Defence in the previous Government. The policies he put in place have seen green shoots emerge, nowhere more so than in his constituency in Cork. The Naval Service is turning the corner and I compliment him on that. In the...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: We need to look at those things urgently.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Civil Defence and the Office of Emergency Planning: Discussion (16 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the witnesses who have come in here today. Normally, I have a list of things that I want to complain about when I meet witnesses coming before this committee but I have to compliment both the Office of Emergency Planning and Civil Defence on the work they do. If I may, I will single out Civil Defence as a former member myself and, indeed, a manpack qualified member. I used to train...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó – Order of Business (15 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Last week, the House debated a motion on head and neck cancer. Much of what was in that motion revolved around my daughter Rebecca's experience. Colleagues from within the House and the Government supported the motion. Somehow or other, however, a story seems to have developed around the House to the effect that my daughter is very unwell. She is not. Rebecca has a wonderful life when...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Section 11 is not agreed. I said "not agreed".

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry, but I said, "Not agreed".

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It is not agreed.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry that I did not speak loudly enough for the Cathaoirleach.