7. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he intends to establish a special review body to examine means of retention of skilled technicians in the Defence Forces; and if the timeframe for the process. [30785/25]
Sentiment score: 0.18
While the Minister has addressed this issue earlier, the greatest challenge for our Defence Forces is the constant drain of skilled technicians. It is seriously hindering our operational capability, especially in the Naval Service where ships are tied up at dock. Will he commit to establishing a specific review body tasked with examining how we can stem the flow of knowledge and training out of our military?
Sentiment score: 0.28
Whether it is pay, conditions, pensions or, dare I say, accommodation, there must be something we can do to compete with the private sector. When the review body is established and given terms of reference, it should do a deep dive into the levers that can be used to make the Defence Forces an attractive career, rather than just the fact they are trained up by some of the best instructors. I welcome the initiative on air traffic controllers but it should not be a one-off. We need to look right across the services. It is could and should be done.
Sentiment score: 0.19
I welcome the fact the Tánaiste will look at it. We have seen the strains in different elements of the different services, such as ships not being able to be deployed. It is not just happening in Ireland. Services are facing these challenges across the world. I welcome the Tánaiste's indication that he will look at this over the summer and come back to us in the autumn. If there is common agreement across the Government, this review needs to be established sooner rather than later. I look forward to the Tánaiste’s report in the autumn.
Sentiment score: 0.17
Most people would link the triple lock with our foreign policy and neutrality. A lot of people would be surprised at the proposal, given that during the Nice referendum campaign the Government parties were very silent on this issue and there was no real view that there would be a move to change it. The current position comes as a bit of a surprise. To follow on from what an Teachta Connolly said, perhaps the Tánaiste could explain in the remaining time the rationale and motivation to upend a system that has been in place since the 1960s. It is a huge step. There has been no real debate, but rather an announcement that it will be changed. The worry people have is that a fundamental part of our policy on foreign affairs will change all of a sudden. The Tánaiste will, perhaps, give examples later of Afghanistan and some of the challenges there but other challenges in the world face us today and people need to have a clear debate on this.
Sentiment score: 0.20
Irish peacekeeping troops were fired on. It is not the first time; it has happened through the years with Israeli forces and their proxies in that area. The fact is this is not the first time. Is it true to say that the co-ordinates of the Irish troops are given to the so-called Israel Defense Forces, that the bunkers are not moved, and that they know where the peacekeepers have been for a long time? They know exactly where the troops are. They know exactly what they are doing regarding the attacks on these troops. One of my colleagues made the point yesterday that the Israeli war bonds are facilitated by the Central Bank. The rounds that were fired at the Irish peacekeepers were possibly paid for by those war bonds. It highlights the challenges we are facing with regard to the conflict in that zone and what we need to do. We need to be more proactive on this issue.
Sentiment score: -0.10
42. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures that will be put in place to resume full-time flight operations at Casement Aerodrome as a matter of urgency. [30786/25]
Sentiment score: 0.04
It is of little good spending €2.5 billion on jet flight capability if we are operating on a nine-to-five, weekday basis. Can we have some assurance that full-time flight operations at Casement will be brought back online at the earliest possible opportunity? Can we also have assurance that the air ambulance service is not affected?
Sentiment score: 0.48
One of the other TDs raised earlier the Garda helicopter. Again, for those of us who need the Garda helicopter - certainly, it is regularly used right across my constituency - I would be concerned about that. I do not know if the Minister has any influence in that regard, but if it is not going to operate at weekends, is there another site we could use for that? It is critical for supports in all sorts of ways. Whether it is a serious accident or a serious incident, the Garda helicopter is brought in. The idea that we would not be able to use it on the ground is simply appalling. I would be interested in the Minister's views on that.
Sentiment score: -0.02
My question is to do with placements but also displacements. Challenges in the school system include cases of schools having lost a teacher because the Ukrainian children were moved out of the school. This happened in two schools in my constituency. It is outside the control of the school. We are told there will be extra resources and supports for these children, but here is a school in my constituency that has lost a teacher because of outside factors. That is not covered under the circular in regard to school placement and so on. I have written to the Minister directly. I should have put down a question for today. I have learned that for the future. Is there any flexibility from the Department in regard to these matters? It is placement but it is also displacement.
Sentiment score: -0.02