Results 2,361-2,380 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Seanad: Employment Rights (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Senator for raising this matter, to which I am responding on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for labour affairs. The turbulence experienced in the labour market during the past 12 to 18 months has been unprecedented in modern times and presented employers and employees with huge challenges. Unfortunately, in certain sectors the economic downturn has left some...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I welcome Deputy Stanton, the new Fine Gael spokesperson on defence. I acknowledge the hard work and difficult questions put to me by Deputy Deenihan heretofore. Ireland has offered, through the UN stand-by arrangements system, UNSAS, to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army, excluding reserves,...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: No consideration has been given to any specific location. The question is about the UNIFIL mission. The reality is that, following a very difficult mission such as that undertaken in Chad, there will be considerable work to be done on the equipment on its return. This will take time. Issues arise over leave for the military personnel. Work is to be done in that regard. We served with...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: A period of a month or short few months would not be a practical period within which to deploy troops and equipment overseas. An assessment of the state of the equipment used in Chad will be conducted when it is returned. That may be in the last week of this month. Some work will undoubtedly be required. Issues arise over leave and other matters. A longer period would be required.

Irish Red Cross Society (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous body, established by the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939 pursuant to the Red Cross Act 1938. The society is a charitable organisation with full powers to manage and administer its affairs through its governing body, the central council. Membership of the central council is by way of appointment by the Government or by election in accordance...

Irish Red Cross Society (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I agree with Deputy O'Shea that the continuation of controversies surrounding the Red Cross is undesirable. We would like to do anything we can to address them. The Deputy will remember that, the first time I answered parliamentary questions as Minister, one of my concerns related to the indications at the time that legislative change to proceed with some of the changes recommended by the...

Irish Red Cross Society (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The case for an interim chairperson would be absolute were we clear on the mandate that he or she would be given. In the current circumstances, I would like to be clear on the legislative base, the 1939 orders in the first instance and what we need to achieve in terms of the working group's recommendations before approaching someone and asking him or her to take on a specific job. Lumbering...

Defence Forces Strength (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF. Government approval was secured in the context of budget 2010 for a level of 10,000, all ranks. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the report of the special group on public service numbers and...

Defence Forces Strength (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am always reluctant to be specific about a timeframe. In this instance, however, I am fairly confident that the review will be completed this month and that the initial discussions with the Department of Finance might take place within such a timeframe. Otherwise, the review will run until September, as Deputies will be aware, but that situation is undesirable. I am hopeful, if not...

Defence Forces Strength (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: As Deputies will be aware, we have already commenced recruitment to the Naval Service, the area in most urgent need. Those new recruits will be coming on stream shortly. The next two phases will involve a cadet class - I have not completed discussions in this regard - and an intake to the military. I hope to move on this process towards the end of the year. In previous years, the number of...

Reserve Defence Force (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The current White Paper on Defence 2000 outlined the overall strategy for the development of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF. This was based on the report of a special steering group established by the then Minister for Defence in January 1998. The steering group directed the work of a military board, which carried out a comprehensive review of the RDF. The process involved extensive...

Reserve Defence Force (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I agree with Deputy O'Shea in regard to the latter point. I have had some experience as regards the Reserve Defence Forces over the last three months since my appointment and I have been looking at the various recommendations that arose along the way. It seems to me that by and large, as regards the recommendations that came forward, at least a positive attempt was made to implement them....

Reserve Defence Force (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: If I appear unenthusiastic about the idea of a brigadier general, it is partly because it seems that many of the recommendations regarding the reserve that have been implemented do not appear to have brought about the positive results people had hoped for. I have an open mind on this but I am a good deal short of being convinced that it will address what seems to me to be much more...

Naval Service (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: A strategy for the replacement of Naval Service offshore patrol vessels, OPVs, is currently in progress following the commencement of a tender competition in 2007. The competition sought tenders for the purchase of two OPVs with an option for a third. The process comprised two stages – stage 1, a request for proposals and stage 2, an invitation to tender. During 2008, stage 1 of the...

Naval Service (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am not a great expert on the dimensions of ships and descriptions of them but it is true that new ships, should they be acquired, will be at the larger end of the scale because of the maritime conditions, as outlined by Deputy Stanton. The decision on whether to proceed this year or next, will depend on two factors. First, there is some work to be done on the conclusion of negotiations...

Naval Service (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: We have been fortunate that the vessels in question have not indicated major difficulties and have been very well cared for. While 30 years is the normal lifespan for one of these ships, I do not anticipate any difficulties. Some maintenance issues requiring dry-docking have been attended to more than competently. I accept Deputy Stanton's concern that even if I were in a position to sign...

Other Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Os rud é go bhfuil an freagra ar Ceisteanna Uimh. 26 agus 38 díreach mar an gcéanna leis an freagra ar an gceist atá díreach déanta againn, ní gá dom an freagra a léamh amach arís.

Other Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I do not want to give the impression that a flotilla of eight is comfortable. The job is, however, being well done within existing resources. LE Aoife was off the west coast of Clare recently and LE Aisling will be in Galway docks next year celebrating 30 years. LE Niamh is returning from a long and positive trip to South America in which it was part of the celebrations of the Irish...

Other Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The issue of the date will only arise sometime in the second half of this year if I get the approval I referred to earlier. The further out that date goes, the further out the delivery date in 2014 goes. It is possible to accommodate comfortably dry-dock repairs to the flotilla within the amount of patrolling days available. I have had no indication that this position is likely to change.

Other Questions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Historically, there have been four extensions to the exclusion area for which we are responsible from three to six to 12 to 200 miles with some additional shelf areas added. Relative to Ireland's size it is a very large proportion of EU waters for fisheries protection. With regard to patrols against drug shipments, the equipment available in both the vessels and their supporting aircraft has...