Results 7,221-7,240 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: This meeting is convened to consider the Revised Estimates for the Public Services 2015 - Vote 35, Army pensions, and Vote 36, defence. A briefing document has been circulated to members. I welcome the Minister for Defence and his officials and propose that we begin with a brief opening statement from the Minister, followed by questions and comments by members.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: We are discussing the Estimates, but I will allow a brief comment on this issue.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: We know that the region is very unstable and that the authorities here are keeping a very close eye on what is happening there and will continue to do so.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: I propose, with the Minister's agreement, to go through the Estimates subhead by subhead. The first subhead in Vote 35 is subhead A.1 - administration and pay. As there are no questions or comments on it, I will move on to subhead A.2 - Defence Forces pension schemes and payments in respect of transferred service.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: As there are no comments or questions on the subhead, we will move on to subhead A.3 - wound and disability pensions, allowances and gratuities to or in respect of former members of the Defence Forces. I do not think it includes anything too exciting about which members would want to ask questions. Subhead A.4 concerns payments to spouses of veterans of the War of Independence. There are...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: Subhead A.5 deals with compensation payments, lump sum compensation by the Department for service-related deaths of members of the Permanent Defence Force while serving overseas with the United Nations and on certain other missions. There were no such payments in 2014. The scheme is demand-led and non-discretionary. Subhead A.6 concerns medical appliances and travelling and incidental...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: As there are no further questions, we will move on to subhead A2 - administration, non-pay, which provides for the non-pay administrative costs of the Department.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: I remind the Deputy that we are discussing subhead A2 which covers costs incurred for office supplies, equipment and information technology, postal and telecommunications services, travel and subsistence expenses, training expenses for civil servants, etc.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: Do members have comments or questions on subhead A2?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: As there are no questions or comments, we will move on to subhead A3 - Permanent Defence Force pay, which provides for line pay, technical pay and military service allowances for officers and enlisted personnel and the pay of members of the Army nursing service. The provisional outturn for 2014 is €359.59 million and an Estimate of €417.47 million has been provided for 2015....

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: As there are no other questions, we will move on to subhead A4 - Permanent Defence Force allowances. This subhead provides for allowances paid to Permanent Defence Force personnel in areas such as security and patrol duties and overseas subsistence. As there are no questions, we will move on to subhead A5 - Reserve Defence Force pay, etc. This refers to pay, training and miscellaneous...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: Will the underspend in this area in recent years continue in 2015?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: The next subhead is subhead A6 - pay, etc., for chaplains and officiating clergymen. As there are no comments or questions, we will move on to subhead A7 - Defence Forces civilian support, pay and allowances. This refers to civilian employees attached to units of the Permanent Defence Force and fees payable to medical consultants and specialists in respect of the medical treatment of...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: I understand there was an underspend under this subhead in 2014.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: More than 100 will be taken on before the end of the year.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: We will be back next year to see if that has happened.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: We now come to subhead A8, defence equipment.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: The Minister will answer that question first and we will come back to the Deputy's second question.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

David Stanton: I know Mowags are heavy pieces of equipment. Are they very heavy on fuel and expensive to run? Do they break down frequently? Has anybody looked at their reliability over time? Is any record kept of that?