Results 981-1,000 of 3,962 for speaker:Lisa Chambers

Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: Equally, they should put evidence before the House to support any undermining of our neutrality or any suggestion that this is a common European army. If there is evidence for those two assertions then I urge that they would be placed before the House and we can deal with them.

Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: To date, I have seen no evidence of either of those assertions.

Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: What has Deputy Ó Snodaigh's party's ever done for the Defence Forces? He should consider his own party's history.

Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: Likewise.

Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: Sinn Féin did not recognise the Defence Forces for years.

Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: I have a point of order.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: 42. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of discussions he has had with Defence Forces representative organisations on the issue of mandatory retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52898/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: My first question is to ask the Minister of State to give an update to the House on any discussions he has had with the Defence Forces representative organisations on the issue of mandatory retirement, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: Retirement benefits for the Defence Forces were designed to align and factor in the payment of the contributory State pension into final benefits. Mandatory retirement ages in the Defence Forces kick in well ahead of eligibility for the contributory State pension, which is currently 66, and, as the Minister of State said, will increase to 70. Before 2013, it was factored in that there was a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: The negotiations on the single pension scheme in 2012 did not reference or include from any side this accepted agreement that was in place prior to that. In fact, at no point was it outlined by the Department that the agreement would be compromised in any way and the representative associations clearly understood that the supplementary arrangement already in place would remain a key element...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: 44. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces units in which the establishment strength in station for officers is running at less than 50% for November 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52899/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: My question is on numbers in respect of the establishment strength in station for officers where they are running at less than 50%.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: My question relates to the number of units in which the strength in station for officers is running at less than 50%. When replying to that point, the Minister of State referenced cadets and training. That is not the same as officers in station. When questions are put to the Minister of State and his Department about the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, his response always makes...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: The reason we asked the question about strength in station is so that we can ascertain the level of officer numbers. This is the management level of the Defence Forces. I know for a fact that the Minister of State was presented with figures at the RACO conference which showed that a number of units including ordnance-bomb disposal, transport and engineering are currently operating at below...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: 46. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which he plans to arrest the ongoing decline in membership of the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52897/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: How does the Minister of State propose to arrest the ongoing decline in the membership of the Reserve Defence Forces and will he make a statement in that regard, given that the membership is constantly decreasing and there is no reasonable prospect of any increases in the near future?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: The Reserve has been in decline for some time. While it had 2,280 effective members at the end of 2015, this decreased to 2,049 at the end of 2016 and to 1,975 at the end of March 2017, and figures given to me last month show that the current total strength of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, is now 1,856. There is therefore a downward trajectory all the time. Recruitment is the lifeblood...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: I accept that the Minister of State is committed to the Reserve Defence Force but the figures are going down all the time. While we are standing here saying how committed we are, there needs to be action to address the fall in the numbers. I believe the Reserve Defence Force is being strangled when it comes to recruitment and the recruitment process. I have outlined to the Minister of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: 67. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to bring forward new measures to bolster the retention of serving members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52896/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Meetings (12 Dec 2017)

Lisa Chambers: 73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his attendance at the RACO conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52895/17]