Results 341-360 of 20,907 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I am conscious that we have many questions covering a wide range of issues. Perhaps before I come to Deputy Berry, I might go back to the Chief of Staff in order to allow him to deal with some of the issues. I am also conscious that a number of the questions have drifted in the direction of what might be regarded as policy. However, I know the Chief of Staff would be keen to answer as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Chief of Staff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I will come back to Deputy Brady before we conclude. There are a number of members who are offering who have not yet had the opportunity of asking a question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I will give Deputy Brady 30 seconds.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I would ask the Chief of Staff to revert to those in the context of the replies to the next round of questions because I am keen to include as many members as are offering. I am commencing the next round with Deputy Berry. The Deputy will be followed by Deputy Stanton and Senators Clonan and Craughwell. Then I will come back to Deputy Brady. Deputy Clarke is offering again too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Berry and call Deputy Stanton.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: The Chief of Staff has a list of a significant number of questions before him. I will invite him to reply but I also suggest that he group the questions into various sections because there has been something of an overlap and there have been a number of very important questions to which I am sure members wish to seek replies. Before going back to the Chief of Staff, however, Senator...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: In the context of the Chief of Staff's replies, I do not wish to be repetitive, but a number of important issues were raised earlier, not least by Deputy Brady when he said at the outset of the meeting that we, as members of a parliamentary committee, are firmly of the view that morale in the Defence Forces is low. That is obviously a priority of Lieutenant General Clancy's tenure and a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Brady has alternative avenues through which to pursue this issue in any event. He has already done so and will undoubtedly do so again. I ask the Chief of Staff to resume his answers in the manner he deems appropriate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: Due to the fact some of the issues raised by Senator Clonan will be beyond the remit of the Chief of Staff to give a comprehensive answer on - I am sure the Senator knew that when he framed the questions in any event - I do not intend to intervene in any way regarding the manner of replies on the part of the Chief of Staff. Deputy Clarke indicated she had a supplementary question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I am very conscious of time and avoiding opening up issues again because a huge range of questions were proffered to the Chief of Staff and he has not yet completed his responses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: With respect, I am not sure the matter the Senator raised and in which he has been personally and professionally engaged for many years can be addressed by the Chief of Staff by way of a simple "Yes" or "No" answer-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: We have given the Chief of Staff an opportunity to reply to a number of questions, perhaps in a way that has not been optimal in terms of the grouping of questions, but I do not think it is the function of this committee-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I do not think that is a fair appraisal of issues as having been addressed by the Chief of Staff-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: -----through the past 12 months or, indeed, the past two and a half hours.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: All right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: An offer of a meeting has been made by the Chief of Staff and accepted by Senator Clonan. It will be outside the arena of this committee and we wish them well in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I am conscious of the significant number of questions. If there any issues the Chief of Staff or his team wish to expand on and develop further in response to members we would be happy to hear from them in writing. I see some members indicating.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: It was on recruitment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Charles Flanagan: I am not going to open the meeting up again.