Results 2,501-2,520 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (19 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The VFM review of the Reserve Defence Force, which was selected for review as part of the 2009 – 2011 phase of the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review initiative, commenced in February 2010. A Steering Committee comprising representatives from the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Department of Finance was formed. In accordance with revised guidelines for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together. No new agencies or state-owned enterprises have been established since 2007 under the aegis of the Department.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (19 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN mandated mission since 5 July 2002, following the Government Decision of 2 July 2002, authorising the provision of seven (7)...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross Society: Irish Red Cross Society (19 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550, 552 and 553 together. In accordance with Article 9 of the Irish Red Cross Order, 1939 the Chairman of the Society must be a member of the Central Council. In nominating persons to Central Council, the Government considers that it is highly desirable that the Society should have on its governing body, people with a wide variety of knowledge and...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross Society: Irish Red Cross Society (19 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Irish Red Cross Society is an independent statute based charitable organisation with full power to manage its own affairs. The Minister for Defence has no function in the administration of the Irish Red Cross Society and does not get involved in the day to day running of its affairs. It is my understanding that the issue of the bank account in question is being dealt with by the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (19 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together. Within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is firmly focused on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Permanent Defence Force. 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (19 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On the 19th September 2005, Ms Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn SC was appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Government, as the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Her term of office was extended for a further three years from 19th September 2008. The Office of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: E-working is not currently available in the Department of Defence. The Department's entire Dublin based Headquarters will move to Newbridge, Co. Kildare under the decentralisation programme in early November 2010. The move entails significant changes to the manner in which the Department conducts its business and interacts with stakeholders. When the move to Newbridge has been completed...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (20 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 278 together. The All Party Oireachtas Consultation Group on the Centenary of the 1916 Rising last met on Wednesday, 2nd December, 2009, for discussions and site visits to Glasnevin Cemetery and the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks to view projects relating to the 2016 Commemoration of the 1916 Rising. I hope to convene a meeting of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (20 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am advised by the Military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 30 September 2010, the latest date for which figures are currently available, was 9,625 comprising 7,845 Army, 776 Air Corps and 1,004 Naval Service personnel. A breakdown, according to Brigade, is provided in the tabular statement overleaf. Within the context of consolidating the public...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (20 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Following a two-stage tender competition a contract has recently been awarded to the preferred bidder, Babcock Marine, for the provision of two new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for Naval Service. Preparations for the construction of these new vessels have commenced and the first new vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2014. The second vessel will follow one year later. The...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (20 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: As part of the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme the Department identified 33 properties for disposal. These properties are dispersed throughout the country and their disposal will take account of the market conditions, so as to maximise the return to the Defence Forces and generate funding for reinvestment in Defence Forces equipment and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (20 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The PA Report assessed the current arrangements for the provision of medical services and proposed a model for future delivery of those services. The Consultants recommended a programme of major change. As recommended by PA, Working Groups have been set up to progress the various projects identified. These continue to meet regularly and all have submitted reports. The Line officer, in the...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (20 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Defence property portfolio is kept under review by the Department to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. The closure of barracks and the consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The dispersal of personnel over...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Department and its agency, the Civil Defence Board, employ individuals on temporary contract from time to time for a range of reasons, such as the provision of term time cover, staff on fixed purpose contracts or political appointees such as Special Advisors or Personal Assistants. The table below sets out the number of persons employed on temporary contracts and their associated costs...

Irish Red Cross Society (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The current governance proposals arise from a resolution passed in November 2007, by the council of delegates of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The resolution urged all national societies, as requested by action 3 of the strategy for the movement, to examine and update their statutes, their rules and related legal texts by 2010, in accordance with the...

Irish Red Cross Society (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I agree that the Irish Red Cross Society is a very important organisation. It is important to remember that the governance of the society is set out under the terms of the Geneva Convention, the 1938 Act and the 1939 order. One of the principal requirements of the Minister is to ensure the independence of the Irish Red Cross Society. That provision is not necessarily put in place because...

Irish Red Cross Society (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Of course after the report of the task force was received a number of steps needed to be undertaken, not least of which was consultation with the international Red Cross with regard to whether the working group proposals were appropriate in the context of the changes the international Red Cross had sought in 2007. There was considerable consultation at that level. There was also...

Irish Red Cross Society (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I agree with the Deputy on the role of the volunteers in the Irish Red Cross Society and the wonderful work they do as well as the impact of the Red Cross internationally. As previously discussed in the Chamber, it would have been impossible to advance all this in the absence of a chairman being in position to lead the executive as considerable work needs to be done there. I assure the...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Lariam is authorised for use by the Irish Medicines Board which is the statutory regulatory body charged with regulating the use of medicines, to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines available in Ireland. Lariam was first authorised for use by the Irish Medicines Board in 1989. The authorised product information provides details to ensure the safe and effective use of this...