Results 9,841-9,860 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Our neutral stance is not being watered down in any way. PESCO will enable the Defence Forces to develop its capabilities in support of peacekeeping through participation in joint projects. Every Member will recognise the excellent work of members of the Defence Forces when they participate in peacekeeping missions throughout the world. They have to undergo specific training to participate...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will be aware, discussions within the EU in the area of defence and security take place in the context of the Common Security and Defence Policy, for which decisions require the unanimous approval of all member states. These discussions take place at regular meetings of Heads of State and Government, at ministerial level meetings and through the Council preparatory bodies. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The upgrade of maritime surveillance projects aims to integrate land-based surveillance systems and maritime and air platforms in order to distribute real-time information to member states so as to provide timely and effective responses in international waters. The main objective of the programme is to enhance maritime surveillance awareness and the potential response effectiveness of the EU...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Ireland is not joining eight projects, it will have observer status in respect of them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: It was decided by military management. I am not obliged to come into the House to advise Deputies of the projects in which we are participating.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Following on from a motion agreed by this House, Ireland joined PESCO as a fully-fledged member. I have no issue with appearing before Oireachtas committees. If I were required to come into the House on a day-today basis to seek permission to enable the Defence Forces to do their daily duties, the Deputy might like that but no work would be done. Deputy Eamon Ryan was at the Cabinet table...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 8 and 36 together. The primary focus regarding the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces to fulfil the roles assigned to them by Government. The latter include undertaking overseas peace support operations and, in that context, the aim is to afford the greatest possible...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that there is blood on my hands.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: My number one priority is that we have the best equipment for our personnel when they go overseas and that our equipment matches the best equipment that is out there. I hope Irish personnel are never injured or killed overseas because of a lack of equipment. If we sent members of the Irish Defence Forces overseas without the very best equipment available, I can assure the Deputy that he...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I already outlined in my reply, trade policy and market access are largely EU competencies and any restriction or ban on imports from any particular country would have to be decided at EU level. I am happy that the Department of Defence has abided by all guidelines through this process. The Government has consistently been opposed to proposals for trade, diplomatic, cultural, academic,...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The other priority is that we get the best available equipment out there for members of the Irish Defence Forces when they go overseas. I have been reassured by the Chief of Staff that members of the Irish Defence Forces have the best equipment while participating in any of the peacekeeping duties overseas.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I have outlined that this is European Union tendering and the Department of Defence has not set the guidelines. The Deputy knows about EU guidelines as well as I do. We must go through EU procurement guidelines when more than a specific amount of money is being spent.

Other Questions: State Claims Agency (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy will be aware that the State Claims Agency is currently managing seven claims taken against the Minister for Defence for personal injuries alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substance while working in the Air Corps in the period 1991 to 2006. The management of such claims lodged against the Minister for Defence is delegated to the State Claims Agency. As I outlined to the...

Other Questions: State Claims Agency (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is trying to link two very distinct matters. The allegations referred to by the Deputy are historic and this is further complicated as causation has not been established as of yet. I have been very proactive in this matter. When the protected disclosures were submitted to the Department of Defence - there were two in 2015 and one in 2016 - I was briefed on the matter in June...

Other Questions: State Claims Agency (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The health and well-being of any member of the Defence Forces is a priority of mine and of military management. I am glad the Deputy recognises the progress in the Air Corps at Baldonnel. It is one of the reasons I instructed the General Officer Commanding, Sean Clancy, to host a visit for Members of the Oireachtas committee so they could see for themselves the progress out there. I am...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy will be aware that the State Claims Agency manages personal injury claims on behalf of the Department of Defence. The Lariam case referred to by the Deputy was settled on 30 November 2017 without admission of liability. The plaintiff withdrew any part of his claim relating to the choice by the defendants of Lariam as a chemoprophylactic. All other matters are settled and the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I have outlined to the Deputy previously, Roche withdrew from Ireland for commercial reasons. They were the reasons the company withdrew from Ireland. The case to which the Deputy refers was settled without any admission of liability. I am not going any further into the circumstances of any one case. As I have stated previously in the House to the Deputy and to many others, the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I will come back to Deputy Ó Snodaigh on from where we get the Lariam medication. I know that Roche pulled out of Ireland in 2015 or 2016 for commercial reasons and for no other reasons. I wish to repeat to Deputy Clare Daly, as I have already indicated, that the use of anti-malarial drugs is a medical matter and should be decided by a medical officer. I am not given the advice by...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The current head of mission and force commander of UNIFIL is Major General Michael Beary of Ireland. Major General Beary was appointed to the post in July 2016. The appointment, which was for an initial period of one year, was extended at the request of the United Nations for a further one-year term up to 15 July 2018. Major General Beary's appointment to the important post is a tribute...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The mission referred to last night in the Golan Heights is the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, not UNIFIL. I want to state clearly, however, that I spoke to the Chief of Staff twice this morning regarding the live firing last night at 00:30 hours over the Golan Heights. All members of the 57th Infantry Group were in their bunkers for a some hours last night. The head of...