Results 741-760 of 5,034 for speaker:Billy Timmins

EU Battle Groups. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: It is a welcome change to have the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Kitt, standing in for the Minister. I look forward to eliciting much more information than we are accustomed to getting from the Minister. I thank the Minister of State for his reply. However, the Minister for Defence stated earlier in the summer he hoped to bring proposals to Cabinet by the end of...

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Question 54: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with the Chief of Staff with respect to the Defence Forces involvement in the proposed humanitarian assistance groups as announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38255/05]

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: I support this initiative. We have been calling for it since the start of the year. When did the Minister for Foreign Affairs first discuss the issue with Minister for Defence? Which Department will control this body? If it is under the control of the Department of Defence, why did the Minister for Defence not outline what would happen? Will the Minister of State elaborate on the composition...

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Will the Department of Foreign Affairs control this body?

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: The Department of Defence should be the lead Department in this regard. It has the expertise and, while the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Government may have a policy, it should be implemented by the Department of Defence. Will this humanitarian body address internal humanitarian crises? I hope that would be the case. Will the funding of overseas missions come from the overseas...

Decentralisation Programme. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: How many Dublin-based civil servants wish to relocate to Newbridge? I fundamentally disagree with the principle of moving Department headquarters around the country. The Department of Defence is not moving too far but if it is looking for a site in Newbridge, it will prove quite expensive. Recently someone told me of a small property in Newbridge which sold for an outrageous sum. A few miles...

Decentralisation Programme. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Does the Minister agree the purchase of a site in Newbridge is holding back the move? The site will cost a phenomenal sum of money yet literally two miles down the road is the Curragh training camp where the Department has thousands of acres and fantastic access. I do not understand the logic of the move to Newbridge, irrespective of whether one agrees or disagrees with decentralisation. If...

Defence Forces Property. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: I want to reconfirm that all the money obtained for sales of properties has been used for the purchase of equipment or the upgrade or replacement of facilities. Will the Minister of State tell me whether the Minister of Defence has any other plans to sell property in order to finance the equipment programme he outlined or will the money come from normal Estimates?

Military Police Investigations. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: I would like to approach this matter from a different angle to Deputy Gormley. Does the Minister agree that this is somewhat hypocritical? We are not willing to extradite some people for whom the United States has prima facie evidence that they should stand trial there. I agree with the policy of attempting to find the people responsible for the murder of Privates Barrett and Smallhorne,...

Emergency Planning. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Will the Minister of State agree that the group set up after the attacks of 11 September 2001 has no legislation to underpin it despite the fact that it meets every month, that no additional funding has been allocated to it since then, that this is a clear indication that the Government does not take any threat seriously and that this group, if ever called on, will not be able to do what it...

Official Engagements. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: At the RACO conference the Minister raised the serious issue of the percentage of officers serving overseas. I note that the Minister for Defence has today tabled a motion to the House seeking to redeploy troops to Sierra Leone. In his capacity as Government Whip, will the Minister of State agree to bring that motion before the House rather than a committee? The tradition was for such motions...

Official Engagements. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: He should stay there.

Defence Forces Medical Staff. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: I am not sure I heard the Minister of State correctly. Is it the case that the establishment is 47 and 23 are serving?

Defence Forces Medical Staff. (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: I consistently hear the Minister talking about the reorganised and well established Defence Forces and the amount of funding he allocates to this end. In this instance, however, only 50% of the required personnel are in place. What plans does the Minister have to increase this number?

Written Answers — Humanitarian Volunteer Corps: Humanitarian Volunteer Corps (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Question 89: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has had discussions with the chief of staff with respect to the Defence Forces involvement in the proposed humanitarian assistance groups as announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38140/05]

Written Answers — Defence Forces Investigation: Defence Forces Investigation (7 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Question 239: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had regarding the investigation into the murder of Private P. Kelly in Leitrim 1983; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38256/05]

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (8 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Question 48: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the EU proposals to the WTO to reduce supports for agriculture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37712/05]

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (8 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Question 72: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to provide a country-wide and weekend veterinary service for the issue of prescriptions for animal remedies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37713/05]

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: I can understand why a Minister would put information out under the Official Secrets Act, but he has got into trouble from some quarters owing to the manner in which he released the information. Would he look at the feasibility of once a year briefing the House and taking questions and answers on matters that need to be made public? The Minister outlined the difficulty regarding the Colombia...

Written Answers — Cabinet Meetings: Cabinet Meetings (13 Dec 2005)

Billy Timmins: Question 140: To ask the Taoiseach if he will hold a Cabinet meeting in County Wicklow in 2006 in view of the fact that it will celebrate Wicklow 400 in 2006. [38900/05]