John Gormley

Mr. Gormley: Is the Minister of State aware that the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Jim Sreenan, said at the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers or RACO conference that the best way to deal with terrorist threat is to invest in the intelligence services? Can the Minister of State say if the Government has plans to invest more money in the intelligence services? (more…)

Mr. Gormley: One of the alleged killers is a naturalised American citizen. Does the Minister of State know whether the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, raised this with Condoleezza Rice? It would seem appropriate to do so, given that the American authorities and the Bush administration in particular seem to have no difficulties in asking for the extradition of citizens, even Irish ones, for undermining, for example, the American economy in the case of Seán Garland. We now know that the United States has not only sought extradition but has bundled people into planes, which, we believe, passed through Shannon Airport and other European airports with no repercussions. Does the Minister of State not accept that there is an inconsistency between what the United States demands from others and what we can get from them? (more…)

61. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on his speech to the biennial conference of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38197/05] (more…)

47. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if an inquiry has been ordered into serious allegations that an Irish soldier in the Rockhill Barracks, Letterkenny stole diesel from army trucks and filled them up with illegal diesel produced by the Provisional IRA; if the soldier has been suspended while the inquiry is taking place; when the inquiry is due to be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32038/05] (more…)

(more…)

Mr. Gormley: Is the Minister aware that Simon Devereaux, the deputy secretary of the Defence Force’s staff representative association, PDFORRA, expressed concern last month at the group’s annual conference over the level of funding available to the Defence Forces for the battle groups? He argued that Ireland would carry out the process cheaply. Does the Minister agree with the assessment of Mr. Devereaux, and does the Minister concur that the battle groups will require significant extra levels of funding if we are to have the equipment, high readiness and interoperability that is needed?
Could the Minister clarify his opinion on the triple lock mechanism? He has stated in the past that he is totally committed to this mechanism, as am I and the Green Party as a whole. Other parties in Opposition also concur. Will there be no change in the triple lock mechanism if we participate in battle groups? When can we expect the legislative change spoken about by the Minister? (more…)

(more…)

43. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the July 2005 meeting of the national taskforce on emergency planning; if he will further report on the assessment made of suspected Islamic terrorist activities in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25787/05]
 
  50. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the September 2005 meeting of the Government’s working group on emergency planning. [25788/05] (more…)

3. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence the legislative or constitutional changes which are being considered by the Government to facilitate members of the Defence Forces to participate in European Union battlegroups; if any of these measures will affect the triple lock method of authorising Irish troop deployments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26051/05] (more…)