Results 9,981-10,000 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: 89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will have a pension penalty if service is broken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27270/18]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: 211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Public Appointments Service did not run a competition for technical agricultural officers as previously advertised in February 2018; if the qualification levels have changed for these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27362/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 39 together.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I previously informed the House that the Government decision dated 18 November 2016 approved the drafting of the heads of Bill to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. This will remove the blanket exclusion of An Garda Síochána and members of the Defence Forces from its scope. This will be subject to the application of the appropriate exclusions and derogations...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: A decision by the European Court of Justice on 12 January 2006 in The Commission of the European Communities v. Kingdom of Spain clarified how the working time directive applies to non-civilian workers within the public service such as armed forces, military police and customs forces. A 2010 report followed from the European Commission dealing with the implementation of the working time...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy has mentioned annual leave. I anticipate anything arising out of that will be a matter for discussion with the representative associations in the context of the conciliation and arbitration process. I reiterate that both military management and the Department of Defence are working to come to some conclusions on the issues raised by the Deputy. Engagement has started with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I stated in reply to Deputy Chambers, I want to sort this out as soon as possible. I hope the Deputy will accept that the nature of the duties of military life in general bring demands that are typical of other security and emergency services like An Garda Síochána. I said as much in my original reply. The directive allows for derogations and compensatory rest. As I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The decision to change the issues around the legislation was not on foot of the recent legal case. Action was well under way with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. This stems from a Government decision in 2016, if my memory serves me correctly. The Government has accepted that the blanket exclusion is not in keeping with the 2003 EU directive. Bringing forward...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy will understand that I am prevented from discussing issues if litigation is ongoing. My hands are tied and he has to accept that. His party was in government for years and he will understand that as well as every other Member.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps Operations (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks on an as-available basis, including the provision of air ambulance services to the HSE. The HSE aeromedical desk in the national emergency operations centre is responsible for the co-ordination of all health-related air transport...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps Operations (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The HSE undertook a formal tendering process for the provision of air ambulance services to transfer priority 1 paediatric transplant patients to the UK between 7 p.m. and 7.30 a.m. I am advised that three private companies bid for the contract. Following completion of the competitive process, the contract was awarded to Air Alliance Express and will be in place for a two-year period. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps Operations (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: We are currently investing in new planes and replacing the CASA aircraft. We also have a service level agreement with the HSE. As with other areas of the public service, there have been challenges in recruitment and retention of personnel, particularly in areas of expertise such as air traffic controllers and pilots. Retirements of highly experienced Air Corps personnel are exceeding the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As of 30 May 2018, Ireland is contributing 643 personnel to nine different missions across the globe. The main overseas missions on which Defence Forces personnel are deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, with 376 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, in Syria with 137 personnel. On UNDOF, approximately 130 Defence Forces...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Following the significant events in August 2014 in the area of separation, troops on the UNDOF mission temporarily relocated to Camp Ziouani from a number of positions. Pending the full return of UNDOF to the area of separation, the mission has continued to maintain a credible presence in the Golan Heights in line with its mandate. The Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, Major General...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The initial phase of the incremental return to the mission to Camp Faouar was completed in September 2016 and further deployment took place during 2017 so we have a number of troops there. This involved the deployment of a Nepalese mechanised infantry company and elements of the force headquarters staff, including eight Irish Defence Forces officers. As I said, it is anticipated that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is no doubt aware, section 16 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 sets out confidentiality requirements regarding the protection of the identify of a discloser. Therefore it is not possible for me to go into detail on any actions being taken on foot of any individual disclosure so as to ensure that such individuals' confidentiality is not breached. However,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: If the Deputy reads the legislation, I am precluded from discussing any protected disclosure from any individual. That is clearly set out in the Act. All protected disclosures which I receive or which are received into my Department are treated as having the utmost importance and go through a clear process within my Department and in respect of all other parties involved. As the Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I will of course look into the matter if anyone is fairly due moneys. I have no issue with that whatsoever. I will look into that for the Deputy. If the Deputy wants to write to me on that issue, and if he has the permission of the person in question to do so, I have no issue whatsoever in providing a full reply on that specific issue. The Deputy will have to write to me on it, however....

Other Questions: EU Budgets (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The next EU multi-annual Financial framework, MFF, will determine the budget spending for the EU for the period from 2021 to 2027.  On 2 May 2018, the European Commission presented its EU budget proposals for the multi-annual financial framework. Included in this, the Commission proposed that a budget of €13 billion over the 7 year period be dedicated to the European defence...

Other Questions: EU Budgets (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Any expenditure on defence is a matter for the Government, as the Deputy knows. The Deputy has now seen two budgets going through this House. He has an opportunity to vote on all the budget outcomes. It is up to each Member of this House to do so. It is a matter for the Government to bring forward a budget. If the Government wants to spend a certain amount, be it on agriculture,...