Results 2,741-2,760 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Decentralisation Programme (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 38 together. The relocation to Newbridge under the decentralisation programme was successfully completed on 5 November 2010. The move to Newbridge now sees all civil branches of the Department located either in Newbridge or in Renmore, Galway. The chief of staff, deputy chiefs of staff, director of strategic planning and other relevant military staff...

Decentralisation Programme (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of Public Works is responsible for the provision of the buildings in Newbridge and so forth. I understand the overall cost will be in the region of €34 million. The Department of Defence will have spent approximately €430,000 on the decentralisation project, mainly on ICT and some adjustments which were required. On the communications centre, my...

Decentralisation Programme (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Minister's office is in the new building in Newbridge. The possibility of remaining in Parkgate House would be open for consideration by the Defence Forces if the Department or Defence Forces owned the property, but it is an OPW property and I understand it has plans for the entire area surrounding the new courts buildings and other legal aspects to be accommodated on the greater campus,...

Decentralisation Programme (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Deputy will be aware that the decision to move from Parkgate House was made a number of years ago and was long under way before my appointment to the office. It is not a matter which is decided at Cabinet. Quite clearly, the OPW has a considerable portfolio of buildings and has decided to centralise the Courts Service and all the ancillary services in that area. I understand the plan...

Civil Defence (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 39 together. The Civil Defence Board was established pursuant to the Civil Defence Act 2002 to co-ordinate the operation and future development of the Civil Defence at national level. While the board gives advice on policy issues, responsibility for policy and political accountability to the Oireachtas for the discharge of the board's functions remain...

Civil Defence (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I had a number of meetings with Civil Defence personnel when I visited various places around the country. I had a long interaction with members of the Civil Defence Board, including its chairman, when I went to Roscrea for the launch of the three-year plan. Considerable thought has been given to how the Civil Defence might be developed. In the past, there were concerns because the Civil...

Civil Defence (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The board has been very proactive in interacting with departmental officials on the issues that arise. The importance of the volunteer programme initiative, which is close to completion, has been demonstrated. The initiative, which is particularly vibrant, has been successful in drawing the attention of the public to the existence of the Civil Defence and the advantages to volunteers of...

Civil Defence (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Deputy has made a fair point about the particular challenge we face in this regard. The organisations he mentioned, each of which has a huge voluntary element, have successfully maintained relatively high membership levels. Some of them have found the challenge more difficult than others. The need for co-ordination arises most dramatically in circumstances like those of the last two...

Civil Defence (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I do not have the information on age limits off the top of my head, and I shall have to come back to the Deputy on that. In some areas there is considerable interaction with schools. While travelling around the country I have asked civil defence officers and others I have met about something which was very common in my youth, namely, the provision of first aid classes to a very high...

Departmental Expenditure (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 69 and 71 together. In common with all areas of the public service, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will operate with reduced funding for 2011. The gross Estimate for Department of Defence and Army pensions combined in 2011 is €933 million, an overall reduction of 4% on the 2010 Estimate. Defence spending at €725 million, including...

Departmental Expenditure (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: As to the latter concern, I have no worries in that regard. I am absolutely certain that the Defence Forces will be fit for purpose, and that has been proven. Of all Departments, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have most successfully addressed downsizing, while improving quality of service simultaneously, to an extraordinary extent. This is testimony to the professionalism...

Departmental Expenditure (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is mainly on the civilian employee side. I understand there are considerable opportunities available in that area, but the framework will have to be discussed with the stakeholders. It would be very unwise and unhelpful for a Minister or anybody else to lay out a narrow construct as regards what should be achieved over the period. Yesterday, I engaged with the two representative...

Departmental Expenditure (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is stated in the reply that administrative efficiencies of €3 million in 2011 will be achieved through reduced employee numbers. The four year yield of €21 million on administrative efficiencies relates primarily to payroll savings across the Vote. They are accumulated and not defined and would be likely to arise more or less in proportion across the four year period. The figure...

Written Answers — Maritime Surveillance and Security: Maritime Surveillance and Security (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: An Inter-Departmental Maritime Surveillance Co-ordination Group (MarSur CG), chaired by the Department of Transport, was established in 2009 under the auspices of the Maritime Co-ordination Group of Assistant Secretaries. The MarSur Co-ordination Group is working towards the creation of a common information-sharing environment to enhance safety and security within the Irish maritime domain....

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 51 together. The All Party Oireachtas Consultation Group on the Centenary of the Rising, which I chair and represent the Government on, also comprises Deputy Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael), Deputy Joe Costello (Labour), Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin) and Deputy Michael Lowry (for independent members). The Secretariat is provided by the Department...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces as at 30 November 2010, the latest date for which figures are currently available, was 9,502 comprising 7,704 Army, 769 Air Corps and 1,029 Naval Service Personnel. The number of officers and the number of enlisted personnel who have left the Permanent Defence Forces to date in 2010 is 43 and 425...

Written Answers — Naval Service-Air Corps Operations: Naval Service-Air Corps Operations (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 42 together. Responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking rests primarily with the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners. Responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. However, the White Paper on Defence provides for a security role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to assist and support the...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Minister for Defence has no role in relation to the appointment of a new Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross Society which is an independent charitable organisation with full powers to manage and administer its affairs. However, I understand that interviews for the post of Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross Society commenced earlier this week. In these circumstances, I would...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos 34, 36, 40, 50, 52, 240 and 244 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...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: Last weekend the Irish Red Cross published the report of its internal investigation. I have examined the report and I note there was no misappropriation or mis-allocation of funds. However, there were serious administrative failures in the Society with regard to the management of some of the monies collected for the Tsunami Appeal in 2005. The report states that the Society did not have...