Results 7,561-7,580 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is aware, the scheme of conciliation and arbitration for members of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, provides a formal mechanism for the PDF representative associations, RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the official side. The purpose of the scheme is to provide a means for the determination of claims and proposals from the associations relating to remuneration and conditions...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I will not comment on any legal cases before the courts. It would be improper of me to make any comment on any cases. Under the terms of the Defence (Amendment) Act 1994, Defence Forces representative associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated to any trade union or any other body without the consent of the Minister of State. Accordingly, the representative...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As I said in my original reply, I will keep the matter under review. I meet Defence Forces personnel on a regular basis, and I make sure I speak to them face-to-face. I do not meet those from management level alone, rather I meet those from all levels of the organisation. I encourage members of the organisation and the Irish Defence Forces, if they have issues of any kind that they want to...

Other Questions: EU Meetings (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As I advised the House previously, Dáil and Government business precluded my attendance at the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Bratislava which took place on 26 and 27 September 2016. The Secretary General of the Department of Defence represented me at the meeting. The meeting included a working session which focused on EU-NATO co-operation and, in particular, on the...

Other Questions: EU Meetings (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Deputy Daly wants to know whether Ireland has any plans to join NATO. I can assure her that there are no such plans. Ireland's co-operation with NATO will continue to be conducted through the Partnership for Peace process. There has been no change in the policy on Ireland's engagement with NATO or deploying troops to NATO-led missions which require that the mission be UN mandated and have...

Other Questions: EU Meetings (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I refute Deputy Daly's assertion that whatever NATO wants it gets. I assure her that is not the case. It would be wrong of me or any Member of this House to refer to our neutrality policy in loose terms. Our neutrality policy is and has been of the utmost importance in any decision that this Government, or any previous one, has made in this House. We have never gone beyond it. Our...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battle Groups (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Participation in EU Battlegroups demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to the development of EU capabilities in the area of crisis management and contributes to our overall credibility within the Union. Ireland’s continuing active engagement in EU Battlegroups enhances our capacity to influence the ongoing development and evolution of the rapid response capacity of the EU, in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Defence expenditure for 2015, in respect of Vote 35 (Army Pensions) and Vote 36 (Defence), was €898m which is 0.35% of GDP. The expenditure for 2015 was comprised of some €671m in Defence expenditure and €227m in Army Pensions expenditure. On the Defence Vote, some €459m was expended on the pay and allowances of Defence Forces personnel, civilian employees and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Pensions (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: It is important to state at the outset that I hold the members of the Reserve Defence Force in very high regard, as do all my colleagues in Government. I have been hugely impressed by the work that volunteer members of the Reserve Defence Force undertake in their local communities in the context of Aid to the Civil Authorities during periods of flooding and other such events, and the pride...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft Landings (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Government’s 2015 review of foreign policy and the Defence White Paper reconfirmed that Ireland will continue to maintain its traditional policy of military neutrality which means non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence arrangements. Ireland's policy of military neutrality was formed in an era when inter-State conflict was the key...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The following tabular statement outlines the extent to which the whole-time equivalent strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps has fluctuated over the last ten years. As of the 30thSeptember, 2016, the strength of the PDF (whole-time equivalent) was 9,044 personnel. The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Meetings (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As Dáil and Government business precluded my attendance at the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Bratislava which was held on the 26th and 27th of September, I was represented by the Secretary General of the Department of Defence. This was an informal meeting and as such no decisions were made on any matter. There was an exchange of views on the implementation of the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Rates of remuneration and conditions of employment in the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector. In this regard, the level of remuneration in the Defence sector has maintained relativity with the levels available in other related public sector employments. The Deputy will be aware that the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Since 5 thFebruary 2003, the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medical Services (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I am advised that Department Officials are currently finalising Terms & Conditions in consultation with RACO (Representative Association of Commissioned Officers) in relation to the recruitment of external Medical Officers. In addition, a new scheme for training medical graduates in military medicine is currently being finalised. Terms & Conditions for suitably qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: At the outset, I want to assure the deputy that the military authorities and I place high priority on the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces. The provision of medicines is an integral part of the medical service provided to members of the Defence Forces. I am informed that the range of medications used by the Defence Forces, and the effects of those...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 204 together. The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 September 2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Expenditure (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The costs incurred in the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The primary purpose for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to enhance the capability of the Irish Defence Forces and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops on overseas Peace Support Operations. The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defensive...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) is calculated in terms of whole-time equivalents. This data is collated on a monthly basis. As of the 30thSeptember, 2016, the strength of the PDF (whole-time equivalent) was 9,044 personnel. Of this figure, 175 are recruits and 160 are cadets, meaning there are 8,709 operationally available personnel. The Government is committed to...