Gerard P. Craughwell: Condemns Foreign Security for Zelensky
Gerard P. Craughwell criticised the use of foreign security forces during President Zelensky's visit to Ireland and accused the Oireachtas of negligence on national security and defence. He warned that this negligence risks Ireland's foreign direct investment and urged parliament to stop "sitting on our hands" and openly debate security.
He said Portuguese, French and the PSNI provided security for President Zelensky's visit to Ireland and questioned why domestic security and defence services were not used.
Craughwell accused members of the Oireachtas of complacency and warned that Ireland's police, army, air corps and navy are effectively defunct if foreign forces are relied upon for high-profile protection.
He cited a statement from Danny McCoy on the RTE website that warns of a risk to foreign direct investment due to perceived negligence on security. He said FDI could withdraw if the state does not address defence and security concerns.
He opened with a personal note about a Bravery Awards event, saying his niece's husband, Eoin Clancy, received an award that matched one his father won in 1942 and is commemorated in Blackrock and Salt Hill.
Craughwell urged the opposition to hold government to account and called on the Oireachtas to begin honest public discussion about the country's security arrangements rather than remaining silent.
Allegation of foreign security providers
He said Portuguese, French and the PSNI provided security for President Zelensky's visit to Ireland and questioned why domestic security and defence services were not used.
Concerns about national security and defence
Craughwell accused members of the Oireachtas of complacency and warned that Ireland's police, army, air corps and navy are effectively defunct if foreign forces are relied upon for high-profile protection.
Risk to foreign direct investment
He cited a statement from Danny McCoy on the RTE website that warns of a risk to foreign direct investment due to perceived negligence on security. He said FDI could withdraw if the state does not address defence and security concerns.
Personal anecdote and local awards
He opened with a personal note about a Bravery Awards event, saying his niece's husband, Eoin Clancy, received an award that matched one his father won in 1942 and is commemorated in Blackrock and Salt Hill.
Call for parliamentary accountability
Craughwell urged the opposition to hold government to account and called on the Oireachtas to begin honest public discussion about the country's security arrangements rather than remaining silent.
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Transcript
Go raibh maith agat, Caolherlach. Caolherlach, yourself and the Ciancola presided over Bravery Awards last Friday. And I'm deeply honoured to point out that my niece's husband, Eoin Clancy, was one of the recipients of an award. Eoin now, amongst my family, holds the equal award that my father, in 1942, received and is commemorated in Blackrock and Salt Hill for saving human life as well. My father got a Carnegie Heroes Award at that time. Eoin has got an award from the Ciancola and yourself. And we're extremely proud of him. Yesterday I spoke about the issue of drones and security during President Zelensky's visit to Ireland. How horrified was I yesterday evening to open my computer and find on the journal that the people who provided security for Zelensky's visit to Ireland were the Portuguese, the French and the PSNI police forces. Is there anybody in the Oireachtas who gives a continental damn about the proud sovereign state we're supposed to be? I'm not blaming government anymore. This is an Oireachtas issue. We're sitting on our hands. These things are happening behind our backs. Why can't we be honest and come forward and talk about the security of the state? Danny McCoy this morning has issued a statement. It's on the RTE website for anybody who wants to read it. He talks about the risk to our foreign direct investment due to our negligence. Our negligence. And I'm talking about all of us in this house. Our negligence in the area of security and defence for this country. We will lose the calf that's laying the golden egg. FDI will walk out of this country and we will find ourselves here procrastinating about how did it happen. It happened because we're sitting on our hands. We're saying nothing. Opposition is saying nothing. It is the opposition that holds government to account. Why aren't they speaking out? We're watching the decline of defence and security in this country. Wake up. The Portuguese, the French and the PSNI provided security for Zelensky's visit. We have a police force. We have an army. We have an air corps and we have a navy. All that are defunct. Let's wake up and start talking about security. We have a police force.