Results 7,681-7,700 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29 and 32 together. The College of Commissioners adopted the European defence action plan on 30 November last. This is simply a proposal from the Commission. It has not been discussed or agreed by the member states or the European Parliament. As such, it has yet to go through the wide ranging and extensive EU procedures before any part of it becomes a...

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is right to say that this does not put our neutrality in question. I agree ours is a changing society and the world is changing and we have to be ready for whatever eventuality happens. We have to have the best equipped army to be able to react to whatever is the situation. This is only a proposal from the Commission. It is to be agreed by the Council. I do not want, and it...

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The European defence action plan refers to the creation of a European defence fund which consists of two distinct financial structures. In respect of the research window, Ireland recognises the need for investment to be made in defence research, particularly in innovative technologies and products and services which will assist the development of future capability requirements for our...

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I will repeat what I said in my original reply. I am satisfied that the proposals in the action plan fully respect the EU treaties and the Lisbon protocols and pose no challenge to Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality. There is also a clear recognition and reaffirmation that defence remains a member state prerogative. Decisions about expenditure, military...

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: If the Deputy talks to any member of the Defence Forces, he or she will tell her that the most important thing is-----

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: -----that they have the proper equipment.

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: There is huge potential in this proposal for Ireland. We must give that fact serious consideration. It is about pooling resources. I have said this in the House in the past. We must consider all of the proposals very carefully over the coming period, especially at Head of State level. That is where the Commission's proposals will really be considered. The action plan will be formally...

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: That will be discussed at the upcoming EU Council meeting.

Priority Questions: European Defence Action Plan (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I am not going to get into an argument. This is a proposal that has been sent. There is a huge amount of negotiation yet to be done in respect of it. We must give serious consideration to these proposals. There are huge benefits in this for Ireland.

Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jursidiction Act 2006 established the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, as the competent authority for securing efficient and effective enforcement of sea fisheries protection legislation and the sustainable exploitation of marine fish resources from the waters around Ireland. To this end, the SFPA has a service-level agreement with the Department of...

Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: First, I have had bilateral meetings with my counterpart in the UK. There are two Departments involved here, namely, my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as well as the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. As I have outlined, we have a service level agreement with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. The agency has set out the number of days it requires...

Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: -----I assure the Deputy that we are very much on top of this.

Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I would be the first to say that we need to protect our fish stocks. The fishing industry plays a very important role in our economy, especially in coastal communities, including in my own county in places like Kilmore Quay. I assure the Deputy that whatever the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority requires from the Naval Service and the Air Corps post Brexit will be forthcoming. The...

Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Regarding the Air Corps, the CASA 235 aircraft will be replaced in time. The Air Corps also plays a very important role in sea fisheries protection.

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The re-organisation of the Defence Forces, finalised in October 2012, resulted in a fundamental restructuring of Army formations and units throughout the country, including the closure of a number of operational posts. This was undertaken to enhance operational readiness and deployability while reducing the number of personnel involved in administration. The reorganisation led to a...

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: First, I commend the Defence Forces on conducting the aforementioned detailed survey of members. The findings of the survey are very interesting. In conjunction with the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, my Department is making sure that issues raised in the climate survey affecting members of Óglaigh na hÉireann are addressed. I am not aware of personnel not being able to...

Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I am not aware of a ship not being able to go to sea because of an issue associated with engineering personnel. There are vacancies at present for officers. I will revert to the Deputy with the exact number. We have the biggest cadet class, including members of the Air Corps, Naval Service and the Army. One hundred personnel in the junior cadet class started in September 2016. This will...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Defence Forces Properties (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I acknowledge the Deputy's concerns in this area. As she is aware, the Curragh forum was established to enable key stakeholders of the Curragh plains to meet and contribute to the ongoing management, protection and future development of the plains. Membership of the forum, which is chaired by the Department of Defence, includes representatives from the Defence Forces, An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Defence Forces Properties (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I can chat to the Deputy privately about this. That are a number of schools, both primary and secondary, based in the Curragh Camp. I am very much aware that when they were originally set up, the number of personnel in the camp was much greater than it is now. Of course, numbers are dwindling in the schools. This is one of the first matters I inquired about after my appointment earlier...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Defence Forces Properties (13 Dec 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I have a number of plans for the Curragh Camp. As the Deputy is very much aware, now that there are additional cadets recruited since September, this is an area in which I personally want to invest. If one looks back ten, 15, 20 or 30 years ago, the number of personnel in the Curragh Camp was greater. The numbers have dwindled in the schools because of the fall in the number of personnel...