Results 11,741-11,760 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: The Dáil on 16 June 2016 ordered that the Revised Estimates for Public Services in respect of the following Votes be referred to this committee for consideration: Vote 35 - Army Pensions, and Vote 36 - Defence. At today's meeting the select committee will consider these estimates and report back to the Dáil. I welcome the Minister of State with special responsibility for defence,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for the detail provided in his introductory remarks. The awful tragedy, crisis and mass murder of innocent people in Syria and the difficulties in the region and adjoining states was constantly before the committee during the previous Dáil. The Irish people can be proud of the work of the Naval Service in the Mediterranean. The committee would like the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Yes. The Minister will then respond. I want to make sure that everybody can make the best possible use of the time.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I want to give the Minister a chance to respond to the Deputy's questions. If the Deputy has more we can come back to her later.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: They must be specifically on those questions and not additional questions.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I apologise to the Minister of State, but has Deputy Chambers concluded her supplementary questions?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Could she deal with them fairly succinctly? We are under time constraints.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Sorry, Deputy Chambers, but the Minister of State is replying.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: It also has to do with the fact that we are so late in the year.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: The point is taken but we have discussed the issue previously.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: The unelected presidents from different institutions of Europe were probably selected by Germany, France and a few others.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: If the Minister of State does not have the detail that Deputy Barrett has requested on the peacekeeping college, he might write to the Deputy at an early date.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Does Deputy Chambers have another few queries about Vote 36?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Before we conclude discussion of Vote 36 and appropriations-in-aid, I wish to endorse the comments made by Deputy Lisa Chambers about the importance of the Reserve Defence Force. I encourage the Minister of State and his Department to have an active campaign. I grew up in a Border parish and over the years the work and value of the RDF was never recognised. I often thought that I was a...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I suggest the Department run a pilot recruitment or promotion campaign in towns and counties where military barracks have been closed. Unfortunately, Dún Uí Néill barracks in Cavan in my home county was closed. The Army tradition in the town went back a long time. Barracks in Monaghan, Longford and other areas with an Army tradition have also closed. Unfortunately, this...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: We could discuss the expansion of the Reserve Defence Force and recruitment at a meeting in the autumn. This would demonstrate the commitment of the Oireachtas to the issue and support the work of the Department.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: We will arrange that for October.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Nowadays, our Gaelic footballers and hurlers are subject to more stringent training than members of the Reserve Defence Force. Some of the football and hurling managers could be brought in for training purposes. Do members have questions on Vote 35, which relates to pensions?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Thank you, Minister. That completes consideration of the Revised Estimates for 2016 in respect of Vote 35 - Army Pensions and Vote 36 - Defence. A message to this effect will now be sent to the Clerk of the Dáil. On behalf of the committee, I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, and his officials for attending and for dealing comprehensively with the committee's questions and...