Results 10,681-10,700 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (15 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: 1075. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance claim by a person (details supplied) can be backdated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1032/19]

Ratification of EU and NATO Status of Forces Agreements: Referral to Select Committee (16 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I move:"That Dáil Éireann approves the terms of: (i) the Agreement between the Member States of the European Union concerning the status of military and civilian staff seconded to the institutions of the European Union, of the headquarters and forces which may be made available to the European Union in the context of the preparation and execution of the tasks referred to in Article...

Ratification of EU and NATO Status of Forces Agreements: Referral to Select Committee (16 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I thank Deputies for their comments and contributions. I very much respect the views on all sides of the House and the concerns raised. Deputies have highlighted the importance of our military neutrality and our reputation for peacekeeping. However, the public would also consider it important that the brave men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann serving overseas are protected, like...

Ratification of EU and NATO Status of Forces Agreements: Referral to Select Committee (16 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: This is unsatisfactory from a training and interoperability perspective. We also had to rely on the goodwill of members of the Defence Forces and their partners in respect of the deployment to the battle group's operational headquarters during the stand-by period. This SOFA compromises in no way our national policy of military neutrality.

Ratification of EU and NATO Status of Forces Agreements: Referral to Select Committee (16 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Given the constitutional prohibition in Article 15.6.2o on Ireland agreeing to base foreign troops on its territory, there are no circumstances in which the SOFA could have an application in respect of foreign forces in Ireland, including forces in transit or visiting personnel. The reservations which will attach to our instrument of ratification makes this absolutely explicit and leaves no...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Data (16 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. My Department's Contract Branch undertakes a procurement function in respect of the Defence Forces for defensive equipment and materials, and in respect of major procurement projects. It has a staffing complement of nine. The Branch leads on the procurement of major equipment platforms and other associated goods and services for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (16 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Defence Forces are not currently using 5G communication technology in Ireland or abroad. Likewise, the Department of Defence is not using 5G in Ireland. I have not received advice or consultancy on the use of 5G by the Defence Forces. As with all new communication technology, the Department and Defence Forces will continue to monitor its development and applications into the future.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (16 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: 109. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 6 November 2018, his plans to alter this relief to include a measure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1836/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 4 together. Although I note that Deputy Harty is not present currently, I will answer his question. Similar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising the national finances during the financial crisis. Pay is being restored to members of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Let me refer to what the Taoiseach stated in Mali. I am not sure whether the Deputy listened to the full interview. The Taoiseach agreed that there was an issue with pay in the Defence Forces and added that people did not join the Defence Forces just for the pay. He was right in saying that. Many people join the Defence Forces for the experiences they can get. They want to join from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I am not sure if the Deputy is aware of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission from May 2017. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, gave priority to both the health sector and the Defence Forces in the work of the commission. A joint submission has been made to the pay commission. The Deputy referred specifically to payscales. I will outline the average...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: First, there is a significant number of educational incentives within the Defence Forces. I will address Deputy Chambers's question first. We sent the joint submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in September or early October. I may be corrected on that. That is the body which submits it to the Public Service Pay Commission. The Department was looking for specific...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Defence Forces are excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The Government has committed to amend the Act to encompass the Defence Forces.  The uniqueness of certain military activities must be provided for in the regulatory framework, having regard to the specifics of the directive. Work is under way in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I assure the Deputy that this is an absolute priority for me, the Department and the Defence Forces. As stated, several legal cases are ongoing and I must be very careful in the language that I use. However, the current situation must be contextualised. Legal actions are pending in respect of the application of the working time directive in very specific circumstances. I note what the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I will return to the Deputy with timelines for the legislation. I will correspond with him over the next week or so. Considerable progress is being made, even if the representative associations might not see it like that. I assure the Deputy that a great deal of work is being done on the civil-military side. As stated, the military side is due to report to the Department on this shortly....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: It is a priority for both myself and the organisation, for the civil and military side.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. To this end, it is vital the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way. The age and fitness profile of members of the Permanent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: At the conference in question, I stated that I had instructed civil and military management to develop a broad review of contracts for enlisted personnel within the Defence Forces. I advised that this would require careful consideration of the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the personnel requirements to meet all of the requirements and needs of the organisation. A group...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: It is like comparing apples and oranges. We said we would encourage those with expertise to return to the organisation. If a pilot who retires at 35 years and who has gone to the United Arab Emirates or elsewhere in the Middle East, or who has gone into the private sector for five years, wants to come back into the organisation and has something to offer, it would be acceptable. What is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Paul Kehoe: A number of issues have to be considered. The Deputy may compare the Defence Forces to defence forces in Australia and elsewhere but those countries have large military organisations that may be five, six or ten times the size of ours. One cannot compare other militaries to ours. I attended the PDFORRA conference in 2017. PDFORRA understands my views on this and where I would like to get...