Results 301-320 of 1,024,084 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú OR speaker:Colm Brophy)

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: Perhaps Deputy Ó Murchú will-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I, too, will have to leave to speak in the Dáil.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: Perhaps we will have two short contributions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I have done nothing short in my life. I thank Dr. McDonagh and Professor Tonra for coming in. They have dealt with the issue of Ireland's neutrality and our independent foreign policy. It would be difficult to get movement on that. Whatever future questions are asked, the slaughter in Palestine has created greater difficulties to a degree. Obviously, what the Russians have done is part...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy. I do not know who wants to kick off first. Let us start with Professor Tonra.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: Okay. I will go to Deputy Howlin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: We will start in the opposite order, so we will kick off with Dr. McDonagh and then transfer over whenever he is ready.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: I thank the witness.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: We ask everybody this question so do not feel picked on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: Yes. Dr. McDonagh, is there an opinion on anything additional?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Senator Craughwell would prefer that they be academics that agree with him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: As my favourite expression goes, you always seek opinion which is just about plus or minus 5% of your own opinion. Then you define that opinion as being balanced and fair. We are all guilty of that. I am conscious Dr. McDonagh may want to come in on the supplementary questions he was asked.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: I thank Dr. McDonagh. From my own perspective, so many areas have been covered. I have a few thoughts. To start where Dr. McDonagh finished, one of the key things about neutrality is that in every country in the world there are little button issues that that country deals with in a unique way. They come out of its history, its politics and its society. In the United States, you cannot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: There are a couple of things. First of all, let me be absolutely clear that the overall view on neutrality, which I quite support, is that it is something to which people have a genuine emotional attachment. I just said there is an element there, to be clear. The reality of development aid, which I was involved in for two and a half years, is if we put 100% of the Irish budget into it,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: For the record, we know where our money goes. That is an incorrect statement, Senator Craughwell. I could not let that stand. We have rigorous tracking processes unlike a lot of other areas where there is maybe a little bit of ambiguity as to where money goes. When it comes to ODA, we have very good systems in place. The Senator can disagree. I am not turning this into an ODA discussion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: Deputy Ó Murchú wishes to speak as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I apologise if some of this has been dealt with. Professor Tonra spoke about two things, including security clearance. I do not expect Ireland to have a CIA and I certainly do not expect it to have a whole pile of James Bonds going around the place. However, an ability to analyse information and to be able to put the correct information in front of Government and Ministers is obviously...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: The witnesses do not have to break the questions down individually. They may provide some general wrap-up comments regarding everything they have heard. Professor Ben Tonra will start.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Any good students will know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Recent Developments in the EU on Security and Defence: Discussion (15 May 2024)

Colm Brophy: Absolutely. I thank Dr. McDonagh. I will draw our meeting to a close by thanking both witnesses today. It has been a really interesting round-robin exchange. I thank the members for their questions. With that, I adjourn this committee until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 May.