Results 11,861-11,880 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (6 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The attached table shows the strength of the Defence Forces; the ranks across the three services and gender breakdown of same, as at 30th September 2019, the latest date for which such data is available. Recruitment and inductions will continue throughout 2019 to ensure the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all roles.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (6 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR), as of 30 September 2019, is set out below: ">Table 1 The breakdown of females the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve for the same period is as follows:- ">Table 2...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (6 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The table below illustrates the number of general service recruits the Permanent Defence Force have inducted to date in 2019 with regard to all three services and the gender breakdown of same. Branch Male Female Total Army 282 22 304 Navy 100 2 102 Air Corps 16 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Recruitment (6 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I am advised by the military authorities that, as of 31 October 2019, 102 new members have been inducted into the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve, broken down as follows: Total number inducted Number of females inducted Army Reserve (AR) 85 8 Naval Service Reserve (NSR) 17 2 The Government...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (6 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Civilian Employees are appointed to support the operational capability of the Defence Forces. There are currently 126 Civilian staff, including maintenance personnel, employed in the Defence Forces Training Centre. Recruitment of Civilian Employees in military installations is an on-going process, vacancies are identified and filled on a priority basis. 2019 has seen an active approach...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I have heard that language before from another party. The Public Service Pay Commission, PSPC, report on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, was accepted in full by Government. A comprehensive implementation plan entitled, Strengthening our Defence Forces - Phase One, was also published by Government. The PSPC report recommended a range of measures that will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: RACO and PDFORRA have accepted the independent pay commission's report. I presume Deputy Jack Chambers would have preferred if they had not accepted it. Then he would have something to give out about. I am delighted they accepted it. I understand that the Deputy was not expecting it himself. Broadly speaking, for the majority of projects the times are currently being met. Of the 15...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is totally incorrect. I would not call the public service pay allowances miserly. The military service allowance has increased by 10%. This constitutes a benefit to any individual of up to €675 per annum. Then we have the reversal of the cuts under Haddington Road, the security duty allowance, the patrol duty allowance, the weekend duty allowances, the explosive ordnance...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: He wants negativity and I presume that is what Opposition is all about. I am not going to deal in negativity this morning. I am not going to kowtow to the Deputy's sentiments. I will look at the positives of the Defence Forces and of being a member of the Defence Forces. The Public Service Pay Commission is a start and I have stated that. I know the Deputy does not want to hear the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: There are good updates. I asked the Deputy which one of the technical pay groups he would take out and he has not answered that question. I insisted instead of going for one that we would go for three, with the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the CIS. If we had gone for one it might be completed by now but I insisted that we go with three because we had three challenging areas. If the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Government has acknowledged that there are recruitment and retention difficulties in the Defence Forces. As at end September 2019, the strength of the PDF was 8,654 personnel. As the establishment is for 9,500 personnel this means that there are vacancies in units. The Defence Forces are fully funded for 9,500 personnel. This has led to reduced operational availability in certain...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I would be the first to recognise that we have challenges within the Defence Forces, specifically when we have full employment. This is not the first time we have had challenges in the Defence Forces when there is full employment in the country because there are many more opportunities out there for people. These are highly-skilled, well-trained and educated people who have been afforded...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I listed some of the issues in the Public Service Pay Commission. We have the pilot service commitment scheme, which is a response to one of the commission's recommendations. There is the review of technical pay. Measures in non-pay areas include hot-desking, family-friendly overseas appointments, measures for couples, career breaks, a shorter working year, coaching and mentoring,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: That is Sinn Féin and Opposition politics.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I allowed the Deputy to speak and I ask him to allow me to reply to his question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I am not putting words in anybody's mouth.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy understands how public service pay works. That is one of the reasons we are preparing a strong case for the next round of the public service pay talks. That is important and unique because it is the first time we have done.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: That is one of the reasons that I agreed to do this when I was appointed in 2016. I have been absolutely consistent on that for the past number of years.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Army Bomb Disposals Data (7 Nov 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. The Defence Forces Ordnance Corps...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Army Bomb Disposals Data (7 Nov 2019)

Paul Kehoe: For reasons of operational security, it would be totally inappropriate for me to comment on the disposition and specifics of the Defence Forces explosive ordnance disposal capabilities. I assure the Deputy, however, that any retention and recruitment challenges are prioritised and addressed so that the Defence Forces EOD teams can respond when requests for assistance are made by An Garda...