Results 3,261-3,280 of 9,163 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: That is fine. I thank Mr. Nugent. In terms of the reorganisation that is occurring, there will be little or no change in Dublin. In Dublin city we have two divisions, the Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, south central and north central. Has consideration been given to enhanced co-ordination between the two? Both divisions obviously have a serious amount of work to do, but when one thinks...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: I want to ask about Garda overtime. In my own constituency, the K district, we have Farmleigh and the Phoenix Park, which have serious security requirements from a national perspective that are drawn from the local division. Is additional overtime given at a local level when the division has to deal with national requirements? Also related to overtime, has an additional overtime budget...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Garda is over budget up to now and that has been reported. Will there be an attempt to reduce-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: Overtime, particularly in the Dublin regions, plays a very important role. Gardaí have been excellent in trying to prevent a lot of serious gangland incidents from occurring and providing better visibility. It is important that this is maintained at the very least and that any restriction in overtime does not affect the front-line policing that is occurring across the region.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: In the document submitted, mention is made of unoccupied outlets in towns. What is that about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: I seek an update on Stepaside Garda station. What is the position there, about which we have heard mixed reports?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, has stated that it will be open and operational 24-7, but information received from An Garda Síochána is that it will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. There is confusion, if not a local turf war going on, about operational hours. This is a good opportunity to clarify the situation. There has been a lot of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: That is fair enough.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: My final question relates to the attack on Mr. Kevin Lunney from Fermanagh, who was abducted and dumped on this side of the Border in a shocking and deplorable attack in the past 24 hours. This seems to be a trend of attacks against Quinn Industrial Holdings. There is concern in the local community that there have been no arrests and there has been no follow-through, from a public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Reform and Related Issues: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: Has anyone been brought to justice? That is a concern of some of my party's local representatives. There is a perception, whether it is an information vacuum or whether it is the cross-Border issue. Why has no one who has already attacked, assaulted or brought violence to that company been brought to justice? This is a trend on which there is a need for serious co-operation between the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: My question relates to the attempt by Government to secure a seat on the UN Security Council. I understand that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, via the Department of Defence, is sending a naval vessel to New York and, perhaps, other cities to engage with UN officials. What is the purpose of this operation? For example, is it to wine and dine officials or will serious business...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: 1. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the pay recommendations of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission into recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces will be sufficient to end the retention difficulties being experienced by all three services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38888/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: What are the views of the Minister of State on whether the pay recommendations of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission into the recruitment and retention difficulties in the Defence Forces will be sufficient to end the current retention difficulties being experienced by all three services?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: It is the Minister of State who is misinformed about the crisis. The pay commission report indicates that 57.8% of Permanent Defence Force members stated that they will leave in the next two years and, of those, 84.5% pointed to pay as a primary consideration. The Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, stated today at the conference of the Representative Association of Commissioned...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State did not accurately reflect what was stated by RACO representatives. They stated that its acceptance of the recommendations should not be seen as an acknowledgement that the Defence Forces retention crisis is close to being solved. RACO considers that the reversal of the exodus of personnel is the true metric by which to measure whether the plan is working. Earlier...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: I will reference remarks made by all Deputies and some persons outside the Houses and correctly so. He humiliated the tenure of the Minister of State at the Department of Defence by showing leadership on the issue. RACO stated that there is much frustration and disappointment at the meagre increases set out in the Government's proposals, which is hardly an endorsement of the plan. Of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Expenditure (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: 3. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the defence budget, specifically Vote 36, is on profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38889/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Expenditure (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: Will the Minister outline whether he will require a Supplementary Estimate this year? The last two questions related to pay and allowances. I seek an update on the budgetary position of the Department of Finance.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Expenditure (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State confirmed two things for all the military personnel looking in on proceedings. The pay budget is €24 million below what was budgeted for so far this year. That is because of the mass exodus under the watch of the Minister of State. They are not being paid the appropriate allowances and they are on the poverty line. The Minister of State is yet to outline...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Expenditure (24 Sep 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State should look at his responses to parliamentary questions.