Thanks to the RACO members, General Secretary, Comdt Conor King, Deputy General Secretary, Lt Col Derek Priestly & President of RACO, Comdt Luke Foley for appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Defence recently. We discussed various important issues affecting members of the Defence Forces.
€915m of EU grants on the way to Ireland for decarbonisation, digitalisation & resilience. Ideal opportunity to address longstanding infrastructural deficits in our military & police forces.
Early clarity and swift implementation are needed on the recent Technical Pay announcement. Our best troops are leaving so stopping the haemorrhage is vital. Every. Day. Counts.
Thanks to PDFORRA for appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Defence recently to discuss the military staff retention crisis. In summary: this problem is fixable. ample solutions available. what are we waiting for?
In the Dáil this week, I spoke in relation to the recent cyber-attack on the HSE and the Department of Health. I agree with the views of retired Colonel Dorcha Lee in the Irish Times this morning when he stated that this cyber-attack is of such scale, such magnitude and such consequences that it really should ...
This week in the Dáil, I spoke to Minister Simon Coveney in relation to the provision of the Search and Rescue (SAR) Service. We should identify what component of the service the Air Corps can look after and then task and resource it accordingly. Any part of the service that cannot be provided by the Air Corps ...
Deputy Cathal Berry, TD for Kildare South, highlighted various issues in the Dáil this week in relation to the Curragh Camp, such as housing and derelict buildings, with Minister for Defence Simon Coveney. Deputy Berry said that “anyone who has lived or worked in ...
In the Dáil this week, I asked the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar if the Government would consider acquiring a strategic airlift aircraft for the Defence Forces. I have previously raised this issue with the Tánaiste. Military air transport is a real weakness for Ireland. Throughout the pandemic alone, we’ve had ...
Dáil debate this week on maritime security. Our sailors protect us, now we must protect them. The time for words is over; the time for action has come.
The Commission on the Defence Forces was before the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee this afternoon. I raised the following points with Chair Aidan O’Driscoll - The need for overtime to be paid to military personnel for rostered duties Paying at least the national minimum wage to serving ...
In the Dáil this week speaking in relation to Insurance Fraud. The Insurance crisis here in Ireland is a cross-cutting issue affecting schools, crèches, public amenities and small businesses right across the country. This Bill is not just about prosecution but rather about prevention and aims to help challenge ...
I spoke in the Dáil today with Taoiseach, Micheál Martin and raised a number of issues relating to the Defence Forces. 🔹 I thanked the Taoiseach for his personal intervention to ensure that all peacekeeping troops receive the Covid-19 vaccine prior to deploying on a 6-month tour of duty. 🔹 I raised the Defence ...
