Results 9,641-9,660 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Curragh Forum was established to provide an opportunity for key stakeholders to consider and progress a wide range of issues regarding the use and management of the Curragh Plains. The most recent meeting of the Forum took place on Friday 12 January 2018. It was attended by representatives of the Department of Defence, the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: In order to be enlisted as a General Service Recruit, applicants are required to pass all stages of the recruitment process. These include Physical Fitness Test, Psychometric Test, Interview, Medical Examination and Security Clearance. In relation to this particular case, the Military Authorities have advised that the individual referred to did not satisfy all the requirements for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Project Ireland 2040 Implementation (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s overarching policy initiative to make Ireland a better country for all of us, a country that reflects the best of who we are and what we aspire to be. The National Development Plan 2018 – 2027, a key part of Project Ireland 2040, recognises that Defence provides part of the societal bedrock which allows society to function and thus...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Security Strategy (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Any discussion papers, such as this one, which stimulate debate and discussion in the area of security and defence and contribute to public discourse in that regard are of course to be welcomed. That is not to say that any positions contained within the paper reflect Government policy but they simply contribute to a healthy, inclusive debate which is vital in a fully functioning,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The acquisition of new equipment and equipment upgrades for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Development Plan Data (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The National Development Plan 2018 to 2027 provides €541 million in capital funding for Defence for the period 2018 – 2022. This level of funding will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a programme of sustained equipment replacement and infrastructural development as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper. The following priority investment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: insertheading (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I have outlined to the Deputy previously, I have accepted the recommendations contained in the Working Group's Second Report on Malaria Chemoprophylaxis in principle, whilst recognising that certain of these recommendations will need to be further developed to allow for their implementation. Many of the recommendations focus on areas including planning, training and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will already be aware, the White Paper on Defence includes a commitment to evaluate the potential development of a new Institute for Peace Support and Leadership Training at the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh. The current Programme for a Partnership Government also includes a commitment to develop this Institute. It is foreseen...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Meetings (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I appointed an independent third party to review allegations made in a number of protected disclosures relating to health and safety issues in the Air Corps which were received in late 2015 and early 2016. I sent the report of the independent third party to those who had made disclosures for their views.  I have also received further correspondence from one of the individuals,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 69 together. It is anticipated that in the region of 800 personnel, comprising of General Service Recruits, Apprentices, Cadets and Direct Entry Officers will be recruited to the Permanent Defence Force in 2018. A competition for Air Corps Aircraft Technicians was launched on 2 March 2018 and plans for the initiation of further competitions...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reports (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Defence Forces Climate Survey was commissioned on foot of a recommendation contained in the third and most recent Report of the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG), which was established to oversee implementation of recommendations relating to harassment, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in the Defence Forces. The issues highlighted in last year’s focus group report...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 67 together. The European Committee of Social Rights has considered a complaint submitted by EUROMIL, a European umbrella body for military associations, on behalf of PDFORRA, concerning the lack of certain rights for military representative associations in Ireland. In a non-binding ruling, the Committee has concluded that prohibiting military...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The most significant investment of recent years by the Defence Organisation has been on the procurement of the new...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commemorative Medals (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government provided for the award of a commemorative medal to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann, both Permanent and Reserve, who served during the centenary year of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence Training (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 65 together. On behalf of the government I want to acknowledge the excellent work undertaken by Civil Defence during Storm Emma and the recent heavy snowfall. Over 350 Civil Defence volunteers, using the range of assets available, provided support to the Principal Response Agencies during the course of the Storm and its aftermath.  Actions...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is aware PESCO is a mechanism provided for in the Treaty of the European Union to enable participating member States to come together and, on a project by project basis, jointly develop military crisis management capabilities for use in support of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations and missions in support of international peace and security. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence (2015) provides for a Permanent Defence Force (PDF) strength of 9,500 personnel and the Government is committed to ensuring that the PDF reaches this strength level. In this context, the Government has ensured that there is sufficient funding in place to provide for a full strength of 9,500 PDF personnel. The PDF has a higher turnover level than other elements...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Given the unique and demanding nature of military life, there is understandably a relatively high level of turnover among Defence Forces personnel. This is not new and the Defence Forces have always had a level of turnover that far exceeds other areas of the public service. In order to balance personnel turnover there is ongoing recruitment at both enlisted and officer level. 751...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is aware, since the closure of Columb Barracks in 2012, my Department has explored a number of avenues to try and secure its long term future for the benefit of the local community. Government Departments and other Public Bodies, including Westmeath County Council, have been invited to declare an interest in acquiring the property. However no interest has been expressed from...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Funding (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Government approved arrangements in July 2011, whereby Enterprise Ireland would support the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces capability development through engagement with Irish-based enterprise and research institutes on the use and application of innovative civilian technologies in the military sphere. The White Paper on Defence reinforces this arrangement stating the...