Results 2,481-2,500 of 9,163 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: I will outline the timeline. Late last year, the Minister of State told me that both parties had signed off on a jointly agreed detailed submission to the PSPC. Today, he has told me that, if there is engagement in writing, military management may be allowed to engage with the PSPC. That is welcome. Since the Minister of State's remark that a joint submission had been made, the Chief of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State's language is interesting. I welcome the fact that he has said he will facilitate the direct engagement of the Chief of Staff and military management and I hope he will do so. In autumn of last year, he said that a joint submission had been made. Now he is referring to a joint submission in December. In his initial remarks he also referred to the Department of Public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 3. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a review of the 1994 contracts for members of the Defence Forces is to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2191/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: A very worrying scenario may occur in the next 12 months unless we update the policy position relating to this matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: At PDFORRA conference's in 2017, the Minister of State undertook to review the terms of the 1994 contracts. He needs to clarify what he has done in the interim. There is a strong belief that more subjective criteria are needed for the retention of personnel. Members should be retained on capacity not age. I agree that in terms of operational capabilities, the various strata must be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: I also subscribe to the view that personnel must be physically and psychologically fit to meet the challenges of the job. The Minister of State has outlined another review based on a previous review. An international comparison shows that in Malta, the age limit is 55 years; Finland, 55; Belgium, 56; Cyprus, 52; and Australia, 60. Many personnel in their thirties who must make large...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: They also have expertise.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 6. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the working time directive will be implemented for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1861/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence when the working time directive will be implemented for members of the Defence Forces and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: Late last year, we learned how a shortage of officers in the Defence Forces resulted in bomb disposal experts and marine engineers having to work 70 hours and 65 hours a week, respectively, without any overtime, and a survey carried out by RACO highlighted the Government's total disregard for implementing the directive, which would cap their working week at 48 hours. Germany, Britain and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: The reason I asked the question about the representative associations is that PDFORRA stated that it saw more of the Department's officials in the courts than at negotiation meetings. There is a concern that the Department is more concerned with the High Court cases than with honouring and addressing this issue in a meaningful way. PDFORRA states that, as of late June 2018, departmental...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: That is what PDFORRA said.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Medical Services (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: There is a new strategic HR unit within the Department of Defence. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that if one advertises for a position at half the salary being offered by the HSE, there will not be any applications. There have been no applications for many of the vacant positions within the HSE. Has the Minister of State asked the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 9. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his priorities for the Reserve Defence Force in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1860/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: What are the Minister of State’s priorities for the Reserve Defence Forces in 2019? During his tenure, he has said little about the Reserve Defence Force. There has been a recruitment problem which has been outlined by the Reserve itself. What are his plans to address the diminishing numbers in the Reserve?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State told me in reply to a parliamentary question just before Christmas that the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Forces stood at 1,745. As with the Permanent Defence Forces, the Reserve has been in decline for years. While the Reserve Defence Forces had 2,280 effective members at the end of 2015, this had reduced to 2,049 by the end of 2016 and to 1,975 at the end...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: Much of this relates to the large breakdown in rural and regional units of the Reserve Defence Forces. Mr. Richardson mentioned at that committee meeting that 6,000 applications were received between September 2015 and December 2016 and out of those applicants, 60 were recruited. That shows the mismatch between the numbers who might be interested and the numbers who go on to become...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 19. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces will achieve their establishment strength of 9,500 during 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1859/19]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 28. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to claims that shortages of officers in the Defence Forces have resulted in bomb disposal experts and marine engineers having to work 65 and 70 hours a week, respectively, without overtime; the measures being taken to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1862/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 141. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the planned relocation of the Rotunda Hospital to Connolly Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2090/19]