Results 11,721-11,740 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Overseas Missions (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: That is a matter for the medical team within the Defence Forces. The ARW is well trained and equipped. Anything it has asked of the Government has been responded to. I know that it will do an outstanding job on this mission.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Properties (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 14 together. In order to ensure the Defence Forces have the capability to deliver in all of the roles assigned by the Government, I am committed to the development and improvement of the physical environment and living conditions in military installations throughout the country. The Defence Forces built infrastructure programme is compiled on a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Properties (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy understands there are a number of old and ageing buildings at the Curragh and that it would take a considerable investment to refurbish some of them. Slowly but surely, we are refurbishing some of the older blocks and building some new ones. The Deputy has mentioned a new school to me on several occasions and led a delegation to my Department some time ago seeking a site. While...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Properties (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I am very surprised to hear that new recruits are sleeping on ships but I will check that out. The Deputy spoke specifically about the Curragh Camp. Over the period from 2016 to 2018, some €17 million was spent on various capital projects and the ongoing maintenance of buildings and facilities at the Defence Forces training centre. Most notably, this included the refurbishment of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Properties (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I am not really interested in announcements. I want to get to work on the ground. That is why between 2016 and 2018, €17 million has been spent on various projects within the Defence Forces training college in the Curragh. Regarding the Naval Service accommodation, I note that approval to commence design solutions for the refurbishment and upgrade of the accommodation block and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 16 together. 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 national finances during the financial crisis, as Deputy Aylward will be very much aware. Improvements in the economy have provided an opportunity for the unwinding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy was a Member prior to 2011 when the economy was crushed into the ground. It is an awful pity that he was not as active then as he is now.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: He was a member of the party that was in government at the time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: When I came into this post, a three-star private was on €21,000. Today, he or she is on €28,205 and can earn up to €38,950. A corporal earns €38,185 and can earn up to €39,921. A sergeant is on €40,877 and can earn up to €43,336. A company sergeant is on €47,309 and can earn up to €50,369 while a sergeant-major is on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I ask the Deputy to consider the implementation plan in the context of the pay commission. Accommodation is one of the projects included. We are, however, competing with a strong economy and an economy that recovered under the Fine Gael-led Government from 2011. We now have almost full employment. Unemployment stood at almost 15% when the Deputy's party was last in government. We cannot...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The increase in expenditure on Lariam in 2018 and 2019 is explained by a cost-per-tablet increase of €1.75, and is not related to any change in the manner or frequency of its use. While the headline percentage price increase appears high, this translates into a modest increase in total expenditure on Lariam in 2018 of €1,399 over the 2017 figure. Prior to 2017, Lariam was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I will not be releasing those reports because they were prepared for litigation. The Defence Forces continue to use three antimalarial drugs. These are Lariam, Malarone and Doxycycline. The selection by a medical officer of the most appropriate drug for use is complex and dependent on a number of factors. All of these antimalarial drugs have contraindications and side-effects....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (whole time equivalent), across all services, at 31st August 2019, was 8,653 personnel. Whilst I am very much aware that there continues to be a shortfall between the current strength figures and those of the establishment I remain committed to restoring the strength of the Defence Forces to 9,500. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Industrial Relations (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 17, 20, 26, 30, 34 and 36 together. I am aware of the longstanding desire of PDFORRA to associate with ICTU. In 2017, in a non-binding ruling, the European Committee of Social Rights concluded that prohibiting military personnel from the right to strike was not in breach of the European Social Charter, but that the Charter was breached by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: As at 31st August 2019, 558 personnel had discharged from the Permanent Defence Force. The term 'discharges' encompasses personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training. There will be additional discharges in 2019 for various...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medical Services (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me and my Department. Mental health supports are part of a range of medical and non-medical services provided to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are medically fit to undertake the duties assigned to them. Medical mental health services available to personnel include access to clinical psychology...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medical Services (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Deputies will already be aware of the ongoing efforts made by my Department to fill the vacancy left by the previous in-house military psychiatrist, who retired in May 2018. In this regard, a direct entrant competition for the position of military psychiatrist, which closed on 30th September 2018, yielded no applications. To continue to provide an interim in-house service until such time...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Training (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to emergencies caused by severe weather events, such as storms and flooding, rests with the three designated principal response agencies, namely, the relevant Local Authority, An Garda Síochána, and the Health Service Executive. The Defence Forces provide the fullest possible...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Brexit Preparations (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 31 together. 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. On 9th July last, the Government published the Brexit Contingency Action Plan Update. This reflects the extensive work...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (24 Sep 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. On each occasion that the support of...