Results 8,401-8,420 of 10,938 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: 33. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the recruitment targets, the number of expected retirements and the net increase of personnel within the Defence Forces in each year up to 2028. [51139/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: Will the Tánaiste outline his expectation for the number of members of the Defence Forces at the end of this year and the targets for each year up to 2028?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I acknowledge that there was already a recruitment and retention crisis within the Defence Forces when the Government came to office. The job of the Government was to address that by stemming the exodus of highly trained men and women from our Army, Naval Service and Air Corps and beginning to rebuild. We all accept this was a significant task, considering the underinvestment for the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: Does the Tánaiste accept he gave the same number this time last year?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I agree with the Tánaiste's final point. The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces has outlined the procedures that are in place for joining the Defence Forces. They would make your head spin. I am sure the Tánaiste will acknowledge that he told the Dáil this time last year that the budget had provided funding for a net increase of 400 personnel within the Defence Forces in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: 35. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on action 28 of the Strategic Framework: Transformation of the Defence Forces; if the agreed civil-military management policy position on the implementation of the working time directive within the Defence Forces will be finalised by the end of 2023; the average working hours of members of the Permanent Defence Force, by...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I am sure the Tánaiste will have had the same conversations with members of the Defence Forces representative organisations and their families in this regard. Reverting to our earlier conversation on the recruitment and retention crisis, every single one of them I have met has pinpointed that action on the working time directive as the single greatest move or action the Government could...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I am on the record several times as having said that the implementation of the working time directive in the Defence Forces is the single most important thing we can do to address the crisis in recruitment and retention. I hear frustration from members of the Defence Forces all the time about what they consider to be false dawns, slipping deadlines and missed targets. This leads them to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I do not know how the Tánaiste can say that without having the information about the hours currently being worked by the Defence Forces. Its members regularly tell me they work way beyond the hours that would be expected under the directive. I have another concern, which is not an inference from dealing with any person or Department; it is from an experience I had when I was dealing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: 37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will include the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 in the terms of reference for the tribunal of inquiry arising from abuses allegations brought to public attention by a group (details supplied); and if any other amendments to the terms of reference will be made arising from engagements with the group and another group. [50880/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: Does the Tánaiste intend to include the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act in the terms of reference for the tribunal of inquiry arising from abuse allegations brought to attention primarily by the Women of Honour group, which has sought for this Act to be included in the terms of reference? Does he plan to bring other amendments to the terms of reference arising from engagements...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: Our only purpose in raising these questions is that we want to get this absolutely right. I welcomed the proposal to establish a tribunal of inquiry to investigate the allegations highlighted by the Women of Honour group. It should be noted that we would not be having a tribunal of inquiry or any form of inquiry were it not for the Women of Honour bringing their stories into the public,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I am not aware of anyone in this House who is looking for a tribunal process that will go on for five or ten years.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: What I have said is that at the first hurdle, we need to ensure it has full public confidence. I do not believe that public confidence will be easily built if the organisation that first outlined these allegations, made the charges and highlighted some of the deficiencies that I think everybody has accepted existed in terms of the policies and procedures that were in place is not fit to say...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: 43. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the situation with regard to Defence Forces personnel deployed with UNIFIL and UNDOF; and if he will report on any actions taken in view of the deteriorating security circumstances. [50879/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I am sure the Tánaiste will join me in extending our best wishes and commendation to the members of the Defence Forces who are serving currently in Lebanon and the Golan Heights in what are very difficult security circumstances at present. My question to the Tánaiste is if he will report on the situation regarding our Defence Forces who are currently deployed on the UNIFIL and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Tánaiste. Having read some interviews with, and reports on, participants and commanders within both missions, the Irish participants in particular were noteworthy for their professionalism, bravery, commitment to peace keeping and the missions in which they are engaged. It is important that we all say very clearly how proud we are of the service they are providing, not only...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: The Tánaiste has related his engagements with political leaders in the Middle East. We have all noted the high regard in which Ireland is held. Much of that stems from the political position Ireland has taken in defence of international law. A huge part of that credibility has arisen from the role and the reputation of the Irish forces in ongoing peace keeping missions. In that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Matt Carthy: I will let Deputy Ó Murchú ask his question.