senatorgcraughwell.bsky.social
@senatorgcraughwell.bsky.social
Senator Irish Upper House of Parliament
Government to announce €1.7 Billion on defence spending according to media reports. The question is what's new most contained in the Irish Times article has been announced before. Please take a look at my LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com/posts/gerard...
New €19m anti-drone capability to be available to Defence Forces for EU presidency | Gerard Craughwell
CAN WE BELIEVE ANYTHING FROM GOV? New €19m anti-drone capability to be available to Defence Forces for EU presidency. so we are to have this new equipment in the middle of next year. But...is it no...
www.linkedin.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:45 AM
New €19m anti-drone capability to be available to Defence Forces for EU presidency.

Who.makes this stuff up. The aim is to have the system available to the Defence Forces by the middle of next year.

Ireland takes over EU Presidency in the middle of next year

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
New €19m anti-drone capability to be available to Defence Forces for EU presidency
McEntee to launch €1.7bn expenditure on defence projects with military radar programme set as main priority
www.irishtimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Is this how a proud independent #neutral sovereign nation should be dealing with visits by foreign dignitaries?

Portuguese, French and PSNI anti-drone police units deployed in Dublin during Zelenskyy visit jrnl.ie/6898302
Portuguese, French and PSNI anti-drone police units deployed in Dublin during Zelenskyy visit
Sources have said their role was to operate a drone shield around Leinster House and Government Buildings.
jrnl.ie
December 10, 2025 at 7:55 AM
European Council president Antonio Costa has ‘full confidence’ in Ireland’s ability to protect EU leaders from Russian threat. It would have been great if he provided evidence for all he said.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...
European Council president Antonio Costa has ‘full confidence’ in Ireland’s ability to protect EU leaders from Russian threat
Europe has “full confidence” in Ireland ensuring the security of EU heads of state when they visit as part of the presidency of the European Council next year, despite suspected Russian drone activity...
www.independent.ie
December 10, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Today i was interviewed on www.newstalk.com/shows/the-ha... about the recent incursion of #Drones into Irish airspace. Please have a listen to what I said, link below

www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
The Hard Shoulder | Newstalk
Join us every weekday afternoon from 4-7pm for a round-up of the day’s events, interviews with the people at the centre of the stories – and a bit of cra...
www.newstalk.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Defence and National Security was nobbled on day one. Recent events clearly show how much this Committee is required. Let's see if an emergency meeting gets any traction.

www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/sena...
Senator calls for emergency meeting after drones spotted during Zelensky's visit | BreakingNews
Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell said the committee is not taken seriously, and the incident has caused national embarrassment.
www.breakingnews.ie
December 8, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Mr Lawless said Ireland does not expect EU countries would have to second their defence assets to Ireland during EU high-profile meetings. What does our constitution say?

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Fianna Fáil’s presidential election campaign an ‘unedifying spectacle’, says Minister
Review into handling of campaign expected before Christmas
www.irishtimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Ireland has two ministers for finance, two ministers for education and NO yes NO ministers for defence. Please read my article at the link below.

www.linkedin.com/posts/gerard...
Ireland’s Junior Defence Minister has NO role at Defence Department or with the Defence Forces!!! | Gerard Craughwell
Ireland has two Finance Ministers, two Education Ministersand NO stand alone Defence Minister. Please read my thoughts.
www.linkedin.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Senior gardaí express annoyance over Defence Forces’ response to rogue drones during Zelenskiy visit. The committee on Defence and National Security need the power to investigate this. Were all the protocols for aid to civil powers in place?

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
Senior gardaí express annoyance over Defence Forces’ response to rogue drones during Zelenskiy visit
Questions asked within force over why the Defence Forces did not fire on the drones or fire warning shots
www.irishtimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The Irish Parliamentary committee on Defence and National Security must meet urgently following the incursion of drones into Irish airspace during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. My thoughts on LinkedIn link below.

www.linkedin.com/posts/gerard...
Houses of the Oireachtas website | Gerard Craughwell
Today I have called on Defence and National Security committee to convene an emergency meeting following the recent drone incursion into an Irish no fly airspace during Volodymyr Zelenskyy's state vis...
www.linkedin.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
They want to end the UN mandate in the Lebanon. Why? They want to be able to operate without any oversight or reporting. The #UNSC is no longer fit for purpose.
December 5, 2025 at 8:42 AM
This excellent piece on Irelands posture in a very dangerous world is truly worth a read. For once it's not me expressing my frustration with the Irish Government & it's sleep walking through the most dangerous geopolitical crisis the world has known

www.irishpoliticsnewsletter.ie/p/ireland-ne...
Ireland - The Cosseted Child of Europe
Like a small child unable to defend itself.
www.irishpoliticsnewsletter.ie
December 5, 2025 at 7:48 AM
So the chickens of dis-investment in defence in Ireland are begining to come home to roost.

Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin.

No solution in the state to take out these drones.

jrnl.ie/6893104
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin
Gardaí are investigating whether the drones took off from land in Dublin or from an undetected ship.
jrnl.ie
December 4, 2025 at 9:45 PM
So #neutrality is a term frequently used in the Irish Parliament and in public commentary but what does it mean? Has Ireland enshrined neutrality into its constitution or its laws? Has Ireland registered neutrality in the Hague?

The answer is none of the above.

youtube.com/watch?v=1Z9z...
'The Time Has Come for an Honest Discussion’ Senator Craughwell on Ukraine & Irish Defense
YouTube video by VideoParliament Ireland
youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Isn't it time for the Irish gov to come clean to its citizens & those who choose to invest in our country. Whether we like it or not our #neutral status was ended at the start of the #Russian/Ukrainian war by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD.

www.facebook.com/share/v/1DHb...
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www.facebook.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It is time Ireland made a decision on its posture in the world. Hiding behind vague words such as #MilitarilyNeutral but not #PoliticallyNeutral. Let's face it support for #Ukraine is the right thing to do. Let's do it without preconditions. Let's stand proud.

www.linkedin.com/posts/gerard...
Major Garda security operation, road closures in place for Zelenskiy visit to Dublin | Gerard Craughwell
I will never apologise for my fulsome support for #Ukraine. What I find very difficult to accept is the nonsense the Irish government comes out with when it offers support for Ukraine. Today governme...
www.linkedin.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM
#Ukraine deserves all the support it can get. Why isn't Ireland up front in support. It worries me the total lack of knowledge at the top of government when it comes to Ireland’s #neutrality. We are on the right side in our support so let's be honest not neutral

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...
Major Garda security operation, road closures in place for Zelenskiy visit to Dublin
Additional €100m in ‘non-lethal’ military support set to be announced during Ukrainian president’s first official trip to Ireland
www.irishtimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:26 AM
So today the #Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Dublin and he will address our parliament. Government will grant €100 million for non-lethal aid.

#Ukraine needs all the support it can get as such I ask why place conditions on the aid Ireland gives?

www.rte.ie/news/politic...
Zelensky to address Oireachtas as part of official visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska have arrived in Ireland for their first official visit.
www.rte.ie
December 2, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Reposted
Prince William ‘moved by courage’ of Gazan children under UK care
Prince William ‘moved by courage’ of Gazan children under UK care
Prince William ‘moved by courage’ of Gazan children under UK care
www.independent.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
@robertshrimsley.bsky.social Got to say your publication got the article (link below) spot on. Great factual reporting. Keep an eye on this space.

on.ft.com/481zvng
How Ireland became the weak spot in Europe’s defences
With few ships and limited intelligence-sharing, some say the country cannot hope to protect itself or its infrastructure
on.ft.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:46 PM
This hard hitting on Irelands defence and security brings embarrassment to a new low. The misunderstanding on what it means to be a #neutral state is frightening. Senior government ministers speaking of Ireland being #MilitarilyNeutral but not ##PoliticallyNeutral.

www.linkedin.com/posts/gerard...
How Ireland became the weak spot in Europe’s defences | Gerard Craughwell | 13 comments
How do we Irish meet the challenge of a rapidly changing geopolitical world. We hide behind terms such as #Neutrality or #PoliticallyNeutral or #MorallyNeutral. What does this gibberish actually mean...
www.linkedin.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
How deeply embarrassing for our Republic.

www.facebook.com/share/v/19xR...
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www.facebook.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Great oiece here about 3 cabinet ministers who are actually doing their job. What a breath of fresh air.

These three Ministers are doing something welcome – making enemies

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Pat Leahy: These three ministers are doing something welcome - making enemies
Patrick O’Donovan, Jim O’Callaghan and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill have shown they are not afraid of rattling cages
www.irishtimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Soundbite Politics, Fake Indignation, Moral Cowardice, collapsing Defence Forces (DF)

Orchestrated Emasculation of DF Leadership?

www.linkedin.com/pulse/soundb...
Soundbite Politics, Fake Indignation, Moral Cowardice, collapsing Defence Forces (DF) Orchestrated Emasculation of DF Leadership?
“Populism does not deal with ‘experts’ very well”, cites Cliff Taylor in a recent insightful piece in the Irish Times. He further opines, “we all looked on as Britain sidelined the people who actually...
www.linkedin.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:05 AM