Results 221-240 of 3,962 for speaker:Lisa Chambers

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: In the section on targeted investment the Minister touches on the action plan for education saying investment is key to the approach taken. Following the Cassells report, what is the Department doing in the funding of third level education? I appreciate that the Government has not taken a decision on which option, if any, of the ones outlined in the report is preferable. In the interim,...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: I appreciate that this is part of the brief of the Minister for Education and Skills, but as time passes, it becomes less likely that we will hear his thoughts or views on the Cassells report prior to the budget. In the interim, while we await his opinion in order that we can progress work on the issue in a cross-party way, there is a need for funding to be provided in the budget. In the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: I am glad to hear it.

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: 21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on recent developments regarding the use of Lariam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27240/16]

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: What is the response of the Minister of State at the Department of Defence to recent developments regarding the use of Lariam? Will he make a statement on the matter?

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: Fianna Fáil has believed for some time that the use of the drug Lariam has caused serious problems for the Defence Forces. I have raised the issue with the Minister of State previously. Serious concerns have been raised for many years about the use of Lariam as an anti-malarial drug for troops serving overseas. Last year the British Ministry of Defence acknowledged that 1,000 former...

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: To clarify, the Minister of State has spoken about the advice he has been given. Is he willing to provide it for the House? It appears to me that he is ignoring the facts. Across the water, where thousands have been affected, the British Ministry of Defence has acknowledged the negative impact. Should we not be taking this information on board? The Minister of State has said this is the...

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: That would not be the case.

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: I object to that comment. I will not look for the personal details of any member of the Defence Forces as that would not be appropriate. I asked for the medical advice the Minister of State has received on the drug, Lariam, not on individuals. The Minister of State should be clear about that.

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: We would like to see the advice.

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: It would be quite remarkable for a pharmaceutical company to say it was taking a drug off the shelf because it was bad for people.

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: 23. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the 2016 recruitment campaign for the Defence Forces; the reason the whole-time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force had fallen to 9,025 as of 31 July 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27241/16]

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: The Minister says the Government is committed to maintaining a stabilised force and to achieving a number of 9,500 but this is not the first time I have asked him what he is doing to achieve that figure. We are now at 9,025, which is considerably below the figure of 9,500 at which we should be and that is the minimum. The Government launched a recruitment drive back in April but we have not...

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: I am glad the Minister mentioned the officer corps because, according to RACO, the representative body of serving members of the officer corps, there is a mass exodus of officers from our Defence Forces. If this is not addressed, it could seriously affect our operating capabilities. So far this year, 48 applications have been processed for early retirement from the officer corps and there...

Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: 25. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the implications Brexit will have for Irish defence policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27242/16]

Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: Perhaps the Minister will make a statement on the implications of Brexit for Irish defence policy.

Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: The signs at this point are that Britain might be heading for a hard Brexit, exiting the Single Market and the customs union in doing so. Ending freedom of movement across borders also appears to be a key priority for the new Prime Minister. At the very least we must accept the possibility that there might have to be a hard border in place. It is something we must explore and for which we...

Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: I asked the Minister if he has examined how this will impact the Defence Forces' resources and capabilities and I will take it from his reply that he has not yet done that. He is proposing to feed into the Department of the Taoiseach and its overall committee on Brexit. The Minister's response is quite insufficient. We cannot wait around. I appreciate that we do not know how or when...

Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: It is never too early for planning.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (27 Sep 2016)

Lisa Chambers: 31. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a report on the Defence Forces Climate Survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27129/16]