Results 2,561-2,580 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 23, 26, 56 and 221 together. Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby 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) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 32 and 58 together. The Reserve Defence Force was selected for review as part of the 2009 – 2011 phase of the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review initiative and this review commenced in February 2010. A Steering Committee comprising representatives from the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Department of Finance is overseeing...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: My Department plays an important role in relation to emergency planning and response. The Office of Emergency Planning, which is a joint civil and military office within the Department, facilitates coordination of emergency planning across government departments and agencies. The Office supports the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and the Interdepartmental Working Group on...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: During the period 26 to 28 September 2010, I visited troops serving with KFOR in Kosovo and EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was my first visit to Defence Forces personnel deployed overseas. On 27 September 2010, I had the honour of visiting Camp Ville in Kosovo where I met Irish personnel serving with KFOR's Multinational Battle Group (Centre) and attended a lunch hosted by the Irish...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 28 together. In accordance with Article 9 of the Irish Red Cross Society 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 — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Each year, the Naval Service commits approximately 85-90 of its annual patrol days to foreign deployments. Locations are considered on the basis of the optimum yield that can be derived for Ireland. An Irish naval vessel is considered sovereign Irish territory regardless of its location, and therefore a ship affords rare promotional opportunities for state agencies such as Enterprise...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: EU action in response to humanitarian crises is framed in the context of an overall international approach that brings together the United Nations, the Red Cross movement, humanitarian NGOs and others in support of action by the national authorities of the country concerned. There is general agreement that humanitarian assistance should respect the principles of neutrality, impartiality and...

Written Answers — Civil Defence: Civil Defence (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 35 and 59 together. The Civil Defence Board was established in 2003 and is charged with the development and management of the organisation at national level. The Board is obliged to submit its Strategic Plan for approval every three years. I launched the 3rd Strategic Plan of the Civil Defence Board covering the period 2010-2013 in June 2010. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Remuneration: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I fully appreciate that many of our citizens are facing difficulties in the current environment not least those who have lost their jobs due to the economic downturn. The Government is making every effort, within available resources, to support all those who face hardship. In addition, there are various schemes in place through the Department of Social Protection, including Family Income...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25, 37, 40, 43, 46, 47, 52 and 53 together. I am advised by the Military authorities that a total of 5,885 deployments to Africa have taken place since 1 January 2000, involving 4,127 personnel. In the period since 1 January 2000 the anti-malarial prophylactic agent for those who have served in Central Africa was and is Lariam. I am further advised by the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The question of the recruitment of foreign-nationals to the Defence Forces is not a new one. Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of foreign-nationals to the Defence Forces. People from diverse backgrounds have already been employed in the Defence Forces, but this has mainly been in certain specialised areas. This has worked well - albeit on a limited scale. ...

Written Answers — Cyber Security: Cyber Security (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Cyber security, cyber crime and internet security represent challenges that are constantly evolving and require vigilance and appropriate responses. Cyber security is multi facetted. The nature of the threat and the potential impact also varies considerably depending on the approach and objective of those with malicious intent. In the first instance, each State agency, business and...

Written Answers — Medical Corps: Medical Corps (21 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 — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 48 together. The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous charitable body with full powers to manage and administer its own affairs through its governing body, the Central Council. I have no function in the day-to-day administration of the Irish Red Cross and, as such, I do not get involved in the day-to-day running of its affairs. The engagement of...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (21 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 the Naval Service. The contract value is of the order of €100m. Preparations for the construction of these new vessels have commenced and the first new vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2014. The second...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Units: Defence Forces Units (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: A letter was received in my office from the Secretary of the Pearse Battalion Association on 10 August, 2010. In the letter it was suggested that 62 Reserve Battalion be renamed 62 (Pearse) Reserve Battalion to uphold the memory of Pádraig Pearse. When the Reserve Defence Force was reorganised in October, 2005 it was decided to adopt a numerical unit designation only. This method of naming...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The question of the recruitment of non-Irish nationals to the Defence Forces is not a new one. Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of non-Irish nationals to the Defence Forces. I am advised by the Military authorities that the strength of the Reserve Defence Force as at 31 August 2010, the latest date for which figures are available, was 6,063 comprising 5,805...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Deployment: Defence Forces Deployment (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 55 together. The Framework for Major Emergency Management sets out a structure enabling the Principal Response Agencies (An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and Local Authorities) to prepare for, and make a coordinated response to, major emergencies resulting from events such as severe weather. The Defence Forces are not a principal...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On 19 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 19 September 2008. The function of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Representative Organisation: Defence Forces Representative Organisation (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: On Tuesday, 5 October 2010, I addressed the Annual Delegate Conference of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA). I sought to make my address relevant, positive and informative. I commenced by paying tribute to former Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley. He was a man who displayed exceptional leadership qualities, an extraordinary devotion to...