Results 11,361-11,380 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: It was actually a Fianna Fáil Government that instigated the value for money review very early in 2010.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: We came into office in 2011. I explained in my reply the position on reorganisation and the comprehensive review of expenditure, and on the role of the people working on the review. We are anxious for progress but I will not pre-empt the content of any report to be published. I assure the Deputy that as soon as the value for money report is published, there will be questions on defence in...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 30 together. I addressed most of the issues in regard to the role of our contingent in UNIFIL in answering a priority parliamentary question on the matter earlier. In the area in which the Irish-Finnish battalion operates, the security situation remains calm but tense. The battalion implements force protection measures appropriate to the prevailing...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I assured the Deputy that this is kept under review daily by military personnel in Lebanon. As I stated, most of the Syrian strikes are in the north of Lebanon. The Irish 106th battalion is in south Lebanon on the blue line. The violence in Syria has not yet had an impact on the Irish peacekeeping mission. The Irish-Finnish battalion's mandate is specific to South Lebanon. The battalion...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I fully understand where Deputy Wallace is coming from and I take his views on board. However, the Irish troops are engaged in peacekeeping measures and are neutral in any such work. The conflict at the blue line is not as great as in north Lebanon along the Syrian border. I will pass on the Deputy's views to the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I am not aware of the last statement made by the Deputy. I will not comment on it without seeing it for myself. I commend the troops out there. I visited Lebanon on St. Patrick's Day and I assure the Deputy of the strong relationship with the local community. It has always been there and remains strong. When I was there, I was told the good relationship with the local community goes back...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: No one is a second class citizen and everyone is treated in a fair manner. It is not right or just to see what is happening at this point. The close relationship with the local community exists because of peacekeeping measures carried out by the Irish Defence Forces. The job of the Irish Defence Forces is to undertake peacekeeping in the area. The personnel have a connection with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: The steering committee, established to oversee the value for money review of the reserve, met most recently on the 19 September and is working towards completing the review by the end of this month. The steering committee commenced its work in February 2010, and in the intervening period other priorities, such as undertaking the comprehensive review of expenditure, diverted analytical...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: It is very important to read out the last paragraph.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: The Minister is looking forward to receiving the value for money report and considering its recommendations. Any further comments at this point, including possible options for the future development of the Reserve Defence Force, would be pre-empting the final report, and the Minister is anxious to allow the steering committee to complete its work.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I will repeat the second last paragraph of my reply. As I stated, there was speculation recently that the Defence Force Reserve is to be disbanded. This is unhelpful and unwarranted. There have been repeated assurances that no decision was made regarding the future development of the Defence Force Reserve pending the completion of the value for money report. I very much look forward to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I outlined in my reply the promotional opportunities that are restricted now that we have moved to a two brigade structure from a three brigade structure. I assure the Deputy that the Minister's decision to initiate the reorganisation was made following a detailed assessment of the Defence Forces, the security environment and consideration of associated Defence Forces capability requirements...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I do not agree with that. The Green Paper and the White Paper will be published and we will know exactly the structures and the reorganisation of the Defence Forces as we move forward. We can work on a ten year policy and on what changes will be made within the organisation once the Green Paper and the White Paper are published.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I am not aware of any newsletter going out with any news on Defence Forces from the Minister. I do not work in his constituency office or run his re-election campaign.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I can come back to Deputy Mac Lochlainn on that. The Deputy spoke about re-skilling. If any organisation is professional in the manner in which it carries out reskilling and retraining, it is the Defence Forces. It cannot be questioned in any way about its capabilities and professionalism in the way it carries out that. I can assure the Deputy that if there is any moves of personnel...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, mission is the main overseas mission in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed with a total of 356 personnel. Brigadier General Patrick Phelan was appointed deputy force commander UNIFIL in April 2012. The 106th infantry battalion, comprising some 332 personnel, deployed to UNIFIL in May 2012. The Irish battalion has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I fully understand from where the Deputy is coming. I have spoken with members of the Permanent Defence Forces about barrack closures and the effects on them and their families of reorganisation. The implementation group, which includes officials from the Department of Defence and members of the Defence Forces, is working with RACO and PDFORRA to ensure smooth implementation of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I can assure Deputy Mac Lochlainn that members of the PDF are not being taken for granted. My colleague, the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, has praised them for their work, enthusiasm and commitment. I can assure the Deputy that nobody is being taken for granted. We are in the middle of a reorganisation which involves the relocation of more than 9,000 Defence Forces personnel. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I have only two paragraphs to go and I think it is important. The country is facing serious challenges in managing our current economic and fiscal situation. In line with the situation in most EU member states, the Department of Defence faces cuts that must be managed in a manner which ensures we continue to maintain the capacity and capability of our armed forces to meet the requirements...

Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Paul Kehoe: Deputy Mattie McGrath could learn from his colleague, who got an answer.