Results 8,141-8,160 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Corps Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: First, I wish to state that this facility is only based on a service level agreement. As I stated in my reply, the Air Corps will be able to provide such an as-available service both to the Department of Health or the HSE for medical transfers and to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. That facility is based on a service level agreement and that is stated clearly in that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Corps Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy has asked a number of technical questions and I will respond to him in writing with specific answers to some of those questions. I assure him that I am in the process of addressing issues, including the shortage of air traffic controllers and, as I stated, some personnel have almost completed their training. Another group of personnel started their air traffic control training on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: In a non-binding ruling, the European Committee on Social Rights, ECSR, found in 2014 that current arrangements for industrial relations in An Garda Síochána are not in compliance with aspects of the European Social Charter. This was on the grounds of a prohibition on An Garda Síochána joining national employee organisations and on representative associations levels of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: No. I do not accept the Deputy's assertions. We have a mechanism of the conciliation and arbitration process within the Department and the Defence Forces that is open to both the representative organisations, PDFORRA and RACO, that represent members of the Army, Naval Service and the Air Corps. If they are unhappy with that, they can go to the ombudsman for adjudication. A process is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I have no problem hearing the issues of any representative organisation. I have met the management of both PDFORRA and RACO to hear their concerns and views and any issues they have within the Defence Forces. I put my hands up and said we will not be able to sort out every issue affecting the representative organisations but we can go some way in trying to address the issues they might...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Under the terms of the Defence (Amendment) Act 1990, the Defence Forces representative associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated to any trade unions or any other body. Accordingly, the representative associations cannot be affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, at present. The basis for this prohibition is that it would be inappropriate to apply...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: A process is in place within the Department of Defence in this regard. I have met both representative organisations on numerous occasions and have received representations from PDFORRA seeking to have access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court made available to it. I understand the reasons it would want such services available to it. The Deputy mentioned An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I am happy that the conciliation and arbitration process in place for the representative organisations is suitable and is working. There might be several issues that the Department and my office might not agree on with the representative organisations but the conciliation and arbitration process is open to them to deal with whatever issues they have. I welcome that PDFORRA signed up as a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The transfer of a member of the Permanent Defence Forces from one service or unit to another is entirely a matter for the military authorities in the light of operational requirements. In general terms, applications for transfers are considered by the military authorities having regard to factors such as the manpower level of the unit in which the applicant is serving, the number of transfer...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I am not aware of a specific time limit for how long an application form spends in the naval base in Haulbowline or in Kilkenny but I would encourage the lad to go to the personnel section if his personal circumstances are on his application for transfer. I cannot enquire into specific cases but I made a general enquiry. There has to be a suitable vacancy in Kilkenny and there cannot be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I know the Deputy from Kilkenny wants to say a word. I do not mind if he wants to speak.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I cannot nor will I get involved in any direct transfer but I will go back to the flag officer commanding and ask him to consider this case if the Deputies think there are compassionate grounds for the request.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As I indicated in my earlier reply I remain satisfied with the present arrangements under the combined mechanism of the conciliation and arbitration scheme and the parallel process in place for the Defence Forces. I have no immediate plans to make any changes. That said, I have acknowledged to the representative associations on foot of representations made to me that I will keep the matter...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I have listened to the representative organisations, both PDFORRA and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO. The working group that has been set up will include a member of the Department of Defence. The Department will get feedback from the working group as to how I can proceed and review the current structures. I have seen the conciliation and arbitration process...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is comparing the Defence Forces to An Garda Síochána. A case was brought on behalf of An Garda Síochána to the European Committee on Social Rights about restrictions on access to pay negotiations. The committee, as part of its findings, decided that the right to strike prohibition was in breach of the charter. That situation is not directly comparable to our...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Question Nos. 7 and 16 together. Does Deputy Wallace wish to introduce his question as well?

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 16 together. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, was established on 31 May 1974 by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 350, 1974, following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights in May 1974. UNDOF was established to: maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Syria; supervise the...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I do not accept that our troops are being used as pawns or cover for what is going on in the Golan Heights. I am not going to get into the rights and wrongs of what is happening but this is a United Nations-mandated mission set up since 1974. I have been assured by the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces that all security measures are in place for our troops. Our troops are in the...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Golan Heights were occupied by Israel in 1967 and purportedly annexed in 1981. Ireland does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the area nor does any other Government apart from Israel, although Israel would seek to encourage such recognition. The question of sovereignty over the area is not relevant to the mission of UNDOF, which as I stated is a UN-mandated mission to supervise the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 24 and 25 together. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. A number of specific initiatives have been implemented to increase female participation in the Defence Forces including visits by the Defence...