Results 8,161-8,180 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The new public service pay commission has been tasked with objective analysis and advice on the most appropriate pay levels for the public service. This will include members of the Defence Forces and I welcome that. I also welcome the fact the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association signed up to the Lansdowne Road agreement last week. This will mean benefits for...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I do not believe there is any discrimination against women in the Defence Forces and if there is proof of it then I would like to hear about that. I would consider that to be serious. The Defences Forces are an equal opportunities employer for both males and females. It is great to see that Lieutenant Colonel Mary Carroll as the first female officer to command a mission. She has a group...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The 2015 White Paper on Defence commits to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service personnel. The whole-time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 28 Feb 2017 stands at 9,070 with 7,293, 701 and 1,076 personnel in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, respectively. The Defence...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: It is a matter for the Chief of Staff and the general staff to operate within the numbers of officers they have. As I have said, the strength level for officers at present is quite strong and stands at 100%, 100%;100%, 91.2%; 93%; 99.2%; 85% and 98% for the ranks of lieutenant general, major general, brigadier general, colonel, lieutenant colonel, commandant, captain and lieutenant,...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I will start with those at the level of colonel. The establishment figure should be 34 and is 31. At lieutenant colonel level, there should be 110 and there are 103. At commandant level, the establishment figure should be 257 and is 255. At captain level there is an issue, to which I will return. At lieutenant level the establishment figure should be 167 and is 165. I do not believe...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I absolutely refute that suggestion. There is an issue with people operating in an acting-up capacity as captains. It is my information that, in all ranks, somebody can be brought up to act in someone's position if he or she is not available, is abroad or whatever. I understand that the captain level is the only one at which someone cannot take the position in this manner. I could be...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 23 together. The outcome of the vote of 23 June 2016 in the UK will have implications across all aspects of the business of the European Union. While the vote does not give rise to fundamental strategic issues for Defence Forces operations or for Ireland’s continuing engagement within the EU in the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, it...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I reassure the Deputy that my Department will not be reactionary in any way. The Secretary General and I appointed an assistant secretary to lead the preparations for Brexit within my Department. There is a range of other staff in different sections of the Department that are involved in this. It is not just one person. I have regular management advisory council, MAC, meetings with the...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Once the negotiations start-----

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I have not seen the correspondence or the argument that Theresa May has set out in her Brexit negotiations.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: It would be totally unwise if I were to instruct members of the Permanent Defence Force to get ready to guard the Border. That would be totally unacceptable.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Taoiseach has stressed on numerous occasions that he does not want to go back to the days when members of the Defence forces or the Garda Síochána were on the Border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. I am not going to get into that space either.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy spoke about marine patrols. These are a matter for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. The Naval Service has a service level agreement with the latter in the context of the boarding of ships and matters of that nature. That activity will continue. The Department is very well prepared for Brexit negotiations, through a senior official and with a range of other people in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Defence Action Plan (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The College of Commissioners adopted the European Defence Action Plan on 30 November last. This Commission proposal has yet to go through the wide ranging and extensive EU procedures before any part of it becomes a reality. The aim of the Plan is to explore how EU policies and instruments can ensure that the EU’s industrial and skills base will be able to deliver required defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions Data (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As of 01 March 2017, Ireland is contributing 585 Defence Forces personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 378 personnel and the United Nations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 14, 30, 32 and 42 together. As I outlined earlier, the Air Corps is not providing fixed wing aircraft for routine operations, on an ongoing basis, outside normal hours. However, in exceptional circumstances outside of normal hours, the Air Corps can recall personnel, as happened when Rescue 116 went missing. The reduction in experienced personnel in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 36, 44 and 50 together. The White Paper on Defence confirms that the primary role of the Reserve is to augment the Permanent Defence Force in times of crisis. In non-crisis situations, the main focus will be on training to prepare for this role. The White Paper on Defence also noted that members of the RDF continue to play an important role in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I should say at the outset that, as Minister with Responsibility for Defence, I remain open at all times to considering more efficient and effective approaches to provision of Defence services and, whilst I would never rule out the possibility of seeking an independent review of particular aspects of how the Defence Forces is managed and operates, I have no plans, for reasons that I will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: You will be aware that the Public Service Pay Commission, announced by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has been tasked with providing analysis and advice on remuneration for the public service, including the Defence Forces, in the context of the FEMPI Acts 2009 - 2015. The Public Service Pay Commission is expected to report in the coming months. Once this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Where full-time officials of representative associations are serving personnel, there are informal arrangements in place for their advancement in rank in the normal course. These arrangements are predicated on the principle that such personnel should not suffer any adverse or beneficial impacts on their promotion prospects relative to their peer group as a result of their representing the...