Results 21-40 of 275 for speaker:Tom Brabazon

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Prison Service (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 5. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions his Department is taking to provide additional prison places to meet current and future demand. [36720/25]

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: I welcome the witnesses. What are the witnesses' attitudes to the deployment of our troops in south Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mandate?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: In relation to the current conflagration in the Middle East, we can see very clearly the US and UK are behind Israel. We can see Russia and China are behind Iran. If Russia or China decided to box clever to further destabilise the situation, either of them could veto the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate that is required in a number of weeks to further destabilise the area in aid of their...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: We are talking about UN missions here.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: If the mandate is not renewed in August, for whatever reason, the committee was told by other witnesses to the committee we would have to withdraw our troops immediately. It would be an immediate withdrawal which would destabilise that part of south Lebanon, on the border with Israel.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: It is important that the mandate is renewed but what happens if Russia or China decides to play games?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: Absolutely.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: The veto would have the same effect, whether it is vetoed by China, Russia, the UK, the US or France.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: The situation would potentially be destabilised further.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: That is grand, thanks. Mr. Kelly mentioned he would like to see a referendum to enshrine neutrality. If a wording were agreed, the people were agreeable to it and it was passed and became part of the Constitution, would Mr. Kelly be in any way worried about the triple lock legislation in that context?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: Mr. Kelly uses the word "implicit". One of the witnesses at last week's meeting, Mr. Joe Noonan, who is a legal specialist in this area, confirmed to the committee that the courts have recognised, implicitly, our neutrality.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: That is what Mr. Noonan says and he is the one who held himself to be an expert in this area, from a legal perspective. For argument's sake, and I know this is not the position either of the witnesses adopt, if the triple lock were to be gone in the morning, can they suggest alternative safeguards Ireland could put in place to protect our position as neutrals?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: I thank the witnesses.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: My question has already been put and I am not going to put it a second time.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: I have been putting one question to a number of witnesses on the triple lock issue. If we came up with an acceptable wording that was put to the people about enshrining neutrality in our Constitution and that was passed, would the same concerns around the triple lock manifest?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: The conflagration in the Middle East has become wider than Israel and Gaza. It now involves Israel, Iran, Russia and potentially China and others behind Iran and the US and UK coming in behind Israel. Both sides are on the Security Council and either of them could decide to use Ireland as a pawn in the bigger game and say it will veto the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate, which is required...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 291. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the number of civilian staff in An Garda Síochána in the Dublin metropolitan region. [36736/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Assisted Decision-Making (3 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 330. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions his Department is taking to ensure individuals who are not computer literate are able to make an application for enduring powers of attorney. [36735/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (2 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 63. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department is considering increasing the maximum property purchase price under the help-to-buy scheme. [36552/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (2 Jul 2025)

Tom Brabazon: 64. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering expanding the help to buy scheme to include second hand homes. [36555/25]