Results 9,041-9,060 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Topical Issue Debate: National Cultural Institutions (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Absolutely. Of course, we want to see them being retained. As a Minister of State on this side of the House, I want to see them being retained. This matter falls under the stewardship of the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, whose statutory remit includes broadcasting and RTÉ.

Topical Issue Debate: National Cultural Institutions (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is pulling at straws when she tries to accuse the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, of having no interest in this matter. Of course, she has huge interest in it. Perhaps the Deputy should speak to the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, in the first instance to see how we can proceed on the issue.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The 2015 White Paper on Defence reaffirms that my Department will “identify opportunities for cooperative-collaborative engagement between the Defence Forces and Irish based enterprise and research institutes, including third level colleges.” The sea trials referred to by the Deputy were conducted as part of routine Naval Service patrols and I am advised that no additional...

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

Paul Kehoe: A service commitment scheme was introduced in 1997 to incentivise pilots to remain within the Air Corps. This scheme ran in various formats until 2010 when it was discontinued. Payment under this scheme between 2002 and 2010 amounted to just over €5 million. No provision has been made within budgetary arrangements since 2010 for a similar type scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence (2015) sets out Government policy on Defence for the next decade. It commits to retaining flexible and adaptable defence capabilities for a broad range of scenarios and sets out capability requirements including personnel and equipment in this regard. In this context, it is important that an appropriate balance is maintained between personnel costs and equipment...

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

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence sets out a developmental path for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). It provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) will be 4,169 personnel, consisting of 3,869 Army Reservists and the expansion of the establishment of the four NSR Units from currently 200 personnel to 300. The current total strength for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I announced previously my intention to review the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. In advance of the commencement of the review, I arranged for draft terms of reference to be circulated to PDFORRA and RACO. During the course of recent meetings I had with the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, I requested that they revert to me...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence sets out that the establishment of the Permanent Defence Force will be maintained at 9,500 personnel. As at end October 2017 the strength is 9,219 personnel, which is 97% of the establishment. A range of measures are in train to reach the intended strength level and there is sufficient funding in the Defence Vote for a full strength PDF. I am aware that the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The following motion was placed on the Order Paper of Dáil Éireann and referred to the select committee:That Dáil Éireann approve Ireland's participation in two European Defence Agency projects – (1) Joint Procurement Arrangement for EU SatCom Market and (2) European Centre for Manual Neutralisation Capabilities, ECMAN, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Deputies O'Sullivan and Barrett are speaking in the same vein regarding our neutrality. Participation in the EDA projects is not a form of common defence. Let me state that it does not impact on Ireland's neutrality. If anybody looks back at my record at all European meetings, whatever the debate is, they will see that the number one thing I always ask for is that our policy on neutrality...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: My experience of attending Council meetings in the past 18 months has been that the same issue appears repeatedly on the agenda and people say the same thing in a different way. The most important aspect of these meetings is that every country, specifically the neutral countries, has an opportunity to outline its policy on neutrality. It is often the case that officials from the Department...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: On bomb disposal, there are two personnel annually, so there will not be eight people at any one time. Regarding the charge, we pay a standing charge of €400,000 annually to the EDA. There are other areas where we are able to benefit from being members of the EDA. Then we have the ECMAN project to which the Deputy referred, which has a cost of €75,000. I am not sure what...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: We are not signing up to a new supplier.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Absolutely, but there is no cost to the Exchequer whatever -----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: There is no cost to the Exchequer for SatCom unless we use it. It is a standing service for all members of the European Defence Agency. If there is a problem with the service provided to us by our existing provider and we have to go to the back up service of the EDA, it is only then that the charges kick in.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Let us say the Government decides tomorrow morning that we are to participate in a mission somewhere in Africa or wherever. I am not sure whether the existing contract we have is negotiated every 12 months, but it is a fixed contract for the overseas missions we have, be it Operation Sophia for the Naval Service or an operation for the Air Corps. If we were to undertake a new mission we...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ireland's Participation in European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I will respond to Deputy Barrett before responding to Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. The peacekeeping school is very important for the Irish Defence Forces. It is part of the education of both enlisted personnel and cadets, as peacekeeping is one of the topics enshrined in their training. I am not sure if members are aware of the peace and leadership institute proposed in the programme for...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Good man, Deputy. You never lost your arrogance.

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland’s participation in two European Defence Agency Projects: Motion (30 Nov 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves Ireland's participation in two European Defence Agency projects – (1) Joint Procurement Arrangement for EU SatCom Market and (2) European Centre for Manual Neutralisation Capabilities, ECMAN, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. In commending the motion, I will briefly outline the function of the European...