Results 2,161-2,180 of 4,274 for speaker:Sorca Clarke

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (16 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: It appears that last week's Supreme Court judgment on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, was a shock not only to the Government but also to the Taoiseach's communications officials. Throughout the CETA debate, Government parties consistently sought to reduce the discussion to one in which one was either for trade or against it. The reality, of course, is that no...

Retained Firefighters: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: Copies of the Minster's speech have not been circulated. Perhaps that could be rectified before the end of the debate. The cause and effect of why we are debating this matter are clear, namely, a lack of political leadership over many years, almost a disdain for retained fire services, a model of delivery that is broken and now the fact 60% of firefighters intend to leave with many of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 216. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020. [56742/22]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 217. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the maximum amount of water, without increasing the risk of flooding, has been released through Ardnacrusha and Parteen weirs to date in 2022. [56743/22]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 218. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of pinchpoints in the Shannon Callows area that have been removed to facilitate the natural flow of water in times of flooding. [56744/22]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 219. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of pinchpoints between Athlone and Meelick that have been removed to date in 2022. [56745/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level schools by county that have facilitated an education programme (details supplied) in the years 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [56746/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level teachers who have taken part in teacher training programmes funded and delivered by organisations (details supplied) in the years 2021 and to date in 2022. [56747/22]

Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: We now move to the Regional Group and to Deputy Tóibín.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I will be brief. I thank the Minister and his team for coming in. On the future planning for retirees and contingency, the Minister specifically mentioned there was a net increase of 380 over the past three years since 2019, but he said it is projected 430 personnel will retire this year on a lump sum and a pension. In terms of future planning between the retirees, those who are scheduled...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I ask the Chair to give discretion and allow me ask a subsequent question. The Minister is confident that all those who are in receipt of the military pension will have some payment made to them before Christmas, with possibly a further top-up required in the first quarter of 2023. Is it fair to say that?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: The Minister mentioned his monthly meeting with the Chief of Staff on recruitment and retention. Does that meeting also include examining the need for further training to ensure the knowledge gaps that exist when anybody retires from any area can be filled as quickly as possible?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: It was an issue the Minister raised.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I am not sure if this was an oversight or if it was a turn of phrase. Among all the individuals the Minister mentioned, he did not mention using those currently serving in the Defence Forces to fill the knowledge gap caused by losing skill sets from those retiring from the service.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I am talking about retraining, upskilling and promotional opportunities among those who are serving.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: Yes, if the Chair does not mind.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: The Dáil proceedings are running about half an hour ahead of schedule so I will be really brief. On Vote 27, when Dóchas was in with us the last time and it was highlighting the ongoing tragedy that is emerging in the Horn of Africa, one of the statements made was that there have been plenty of pledges but that there are countries out there that need to live up to those pledges....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: That is a lesson other countries should learn from us. They have not picked up their pledges.