Results 10,941-10,960 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I disagree with the Deputy regarding there being no light at the end of the tunnel. The Government is addressing the issue of pay. I have stated on the public record - in barracks and in the House - and in private that pay is a challenge for the Defence Forces and that is why the Government is addressing this issue. The Deputy has been a Member of this House for many years. He was a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Less than 1% of members of the Defence Forces or the Department of Defence are in receipt of the working family payment. I want to clearly send that message because-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The working family payment is there for a reason. A newly recruited three star private may have no children or three children. The Deputy understands why the working family payment is there, namely, to subsidise families with specific needs. On the ONE campaign referred to by the Deputy, I have met representatives of ONE and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, IUNVA. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will be aware, there is currently a shortage of pilots in the Air Corps. As one of a range of measures to address this issue, the general staff and General Officer Commanding of the Air Corps recommended the initiation of a scheme to recommission former Air Corps officers. There is also scope to recommission officers in other specialist streams across the Defence Forces, if...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Air Corps has 33 vacancies. The initiative was recommended by military management. There is considerable support. Wherever the Deputy is getting his information, he is not getting the full picture. I can give him the full picture now. The recommissioned officers will be offered a short-service commission for a period of three years. In that period, they cannot compete for promotion,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: What the Deputy is now saying is that we should not proceed with any policy unless we get the agreement of all the associations.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Is the Deputy is saying is that we should now not proceed with any policy unless we have the full agreement of all the associations. He said the initiative would block promotions but it will not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: This will not block promotions.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: It will be a short-term commission for a period of three years. This will not block promotions. I have the support of the general staff. The recommendation came to me from the military management. I support it and will continue to support it 100%. It is the right thing to do.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: It is the right thing to do.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy should outline the reason we are losing the staff.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps Recruitment (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: On the retention issue, if the Deputy listened he would know a retention scheme is being addressed by the Public Service Pay Commission. If the Deputy's party had not put us into the plight we were in for many years, we would not have to revisit the retention issue. The arrangement would have been left in place. Unfortunately, the country was broke and this had to be addressed. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I should have stated when dealing with the previous question that the Deputy's party abolished the service commitment scheme in the Air Corps. The conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, namely, PDFORRA and RACO, to engage with the official side. Having...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is great with words.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: This is not my scheme; this is a scheme for the representative associations, namely PDFORRA and RACO. I very much welcome the report by Mr. Barry. Both representative associations have been seeking changes to the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the past 15 years. In 2016, when this matter was brought to my attention at the PDFORRA conference, representatives stated they had...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I am not going to pre-empt the talks between my Department and the representative associations. I would like to get this work concluded as soon as possible. It is in everybody's interest that we put in place the recommendations of the report compiled by Mr. Barry. Much work has gone on in the background and I understand the cost will be met by means of the existing resources of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: As part of a whole of Government approach, my Department continues to engage in forward planning with the other Departments involved in addressing all issues relevant to the UK's decision to leave the European Union. This engagement involves the identification of key strategic, operational and policy issues arising from Brexit. As I have outlined previously, the UK's decision to leave...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Defence Agency (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Ireland has been a participating member State in the European Defence Agency (EDA) since it was established in 2004. Since then, Ireland has participated in a range of EDA projects and programmes. These projects have included Maritime Surveillance, Force Protection, Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) protection, Cyber and Counter-Improvised Explosives Devices Manual...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The act of joining PESCO does not involve an additional cost to the Exchequer. Additional costs may arise in respect of participation in specific PESCO projects similar to the case where the Defence Forces participate in European Defence Agency Projects. Ireland is currently participating in two PESCO projects - (1) The European Union Training Mission Competence Centre and (2) Upgrade of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Defence Agency (26 Feb 2019)

Paul Kehoe: In accordance with the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the Government and Dáil approval was received on 21st February 2019 for Ireland to participate in a European Defence Agency (EDA) project in relation to Military Search Capability Building. This Project will develop common processes, techniques and procedures for military search for participating Member States. ...