Results 1-20 of 6,697 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (13 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 167. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent election in Tanzania (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62663/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 30. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the capacity in the Naval Service, in terms of personnel, specialist personnel and fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60510/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Naval Service is of particular importance to us as an island nation. It is essential. We talked about the full radar picture earlier. It is crucial that we have the capacity. It is unacceptable that we have had a situation over the past year and a half that ships have been put to sea without a functioning main gun because of inadequate personnel. I raised the issue of artificers...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I agree with all that has been said by Deputy Smith. I will also flag the issue of cadets. We spoke about cadets and subsequently officers in the Defence Forces as a whole a short time ago, where serious challenges exist. In the 63rd naval cadet class, six cadets commenced training but only two were commissioned. The remaining four withdrew before commissioning, citing the extended...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is welcome. There are still multiples of that envisioned under the commission on the future of the Defence Forces. Off the top of my head, it was about 300 but that is from memory so I might be wrong on that. We are in a fortunate position that the intelligence elements of the Defence Forces and the Garda have a good working relationship but that is not necessarily the experience...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 8. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the issue of chaplains, who are without representation despite working for, and being paid by, his Department. [60515/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: In August 2024, Fr. Paul Murphy was the subject of a heinous attack at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Galway. It was an appalling attack. It underscored the vulnerability of those serving in the unique and vital role of military chaplains to our Defence Forces. I am seeking an update - I know it was discussed recently - on the issue of representation for chaplains working for and paid...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Perhaps there is not a great deal more that can be added to that. Fr. Murphy, in particular, is regarded with great affection and trust by members of the Defence Forces. He responded to that attack with great courage and a great deal of grace as well. It is an important role. This was discussed at the RACO conference. As outlined, the legal advice is that chaplains are not members of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: As I said, there is not a great deal to add. If it is being worked on, that is welcome. Please keep us updated. It was suggested that a defence amendment Bill may be in the pipeline. I cannot say I will vote for but I might vote for that section. Please keep the House and the committee updated. I appreciate it is not possible in the current legislative framework but it is logical and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 174. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress his Department has made regarding the establishment of a joint cybersecurity command and other actions related to cybersecurity contained in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60523/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: This is going to be a challenging area for this and every jurisdiction. I know work is being advanced. Returning to the area of specialist personnel, it is an area that is going to be crucial. Will the Minister provide an update on developments? I know some specialist staff have been taken on. I think we determined previously that the cybersecurity command has been established. Will the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: We welcome the progress that has been made. A lot more personnel will be needed over time, particularly when you look at the scale of personnel envisioned in the Commission on the Defence Forces. We could do with some clarity on the relationship between the cybersecurity command and the National Cyber Security Centre. It was previously answerable to the Department of communications. It is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I welcome an increase in Defence Force numbers, given that this has been a matter of discussion in these Houses for a number of years in terms of the recruitment and retention crisis. The advance we are talking about is quite modest given the context. We are far from the commission on the future of the Defence Forces. We are below establishment and the minimum acceptable level of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Very often, people want to serve. The Minister spoke about the quality of the people he inspected recently. The men and women of the Defence Forces are our greatest asset. Even at times when payments and allowances were less favourable, people wanted to join. The difficulty is that many of these people are very capable, skilled and experienced and are the kind of people private...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Tánaiste's previous answer tailors well enough with this question. One of the key priorities in how we tailor investment in our Defence Forces is our naval capacity and our understanding of what is in Irish waters. That is probably the number one issue of concern for us and for our neighbours. The most important piece of infrastructure is ensuring that we have that full radar...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The primary radar system and the full radar picture is one of the cornerstones of the transformation of the Defence Forces and it is crucial we get it right, not least because it will cost a substantial sum of money. Can the Tánaiste give us a sense of what kind of sums we are talking about because it is important we apply lessons learned from other public contracts to this project?...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The cost is a consideration. It is vitally important that value for money is achieved but also that it is of the highest standard and it is secure. We talked about whether the naval and the aircraft capacity existed. There is also the issue of personnel. Will there be a requirement for additional specialist personnel in order to operate this? The Minister talked about it being rolled out...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 5. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which the shortfall in critical staffing levels in the Defence Forces poses a national security risk; the efforts which are being made to resolve this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60898/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: We have had discussions regarding a number of these issues. We have talked about the triple lock and that relates to the deployment of our troops abroad. A lot has been said about the world that is changing. It is my view that the Defence Forces were allowed to go significantly backwards by successive governments. That is true in terms of equipment but it is also most true in terms of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The context is the commitments in past referendums.