Results 12,181-12,200 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Army Personnel (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The security of the State rests with An Garda Síochána, with which the Defence Forces have a very close relationship in this regard. I mean this in the best way that we should look forward rather than back. I take the Deputy's views on board about the lack of recruitment from areas where there were barracks in the past. It is one of the hardest decisions. The Deputy was in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Section 2(3) of the Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 prohibits the Defence Forces representative associations from being associated with or affiliated to any trade union or any other body without the consent of the Minister. Members of the Permanent Defence Force also cannot become members of a trade union. To compensate for these limitations, there are a range of statutory redress mechanisms...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I do not accept any of the Deputy's comments. As part of the terms of reference of the review of the conciliation and arbitration scheme, I asked the chairman of the review, Mr. Barry, to look at ICTU affiliation for members of the Defence Forces. That arose from a decision in a EUROMIL case. It is incorrect of the Deputy to say I have been ignoring this issue. If she had read a little...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I acknowledge we have major challenges in the future. To return to the issue the Deputy raised about ICTU affiliation, I noted during a debate on a Private Members' motion tabled by Deputy Jack Chambers of Fianna Fáil that all Opposition Deputies supported membership of ICTU. The motion was supported by all Members of the House at the time. As the Minister of State with responsibility...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Resources (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 62 together.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Resources (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: My priority as Minister with responsibility for defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The resources available to the Defence Forces to carry out their operational commitments are kept under constant review and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Resources (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The document addresses the threat of mines and improvised explosive devices which may close ports and sea lanes and demand the protection of privately-owned cables. A key thrust of the argument is the need for the protection zones around cables. These cables are the responsibility of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. We have a responsibility in that area as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Resources (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: We have to look at the challenges of the situation post Brexit. One issue is the possibility of a hard border. Thankfully, it appears that the latter will not come to pass. That is good news. We have to look at these situations and the challenges we are facing.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Resources (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Deputy Jack Chambers always shifts the discussion. Different Departments have different responsibilities. The Deputy should be able to understand that. The security of the State is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána. Cyber risks are the remit of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. These cables are a major concern. This document in question...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 67 and 82 together. Similar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of PDF personnel was reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising national finances during the financial crisis. Improvements within the economy have provided an opportunity for the unwinding of the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: In recent months, I got an extra €20 million for the Defence Forces for pay and allowances, as recommended by the recent Public Service Pay Commission under the public service stability agreement. We are also looking at other retention matters. I agree with Deputy Moynihan that this is not all down to euro. We must provide a work-life balance for members of the Defence Forces and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The amount returned between 2014 and 2018 was €4.5 million out of a total budget of €4.5 billion. Any savings made on pay are not handed back to the Exchequer. In fact, they are reinvested in the organisation for the benefit of all members. Deputy Moynihan understands the public service stability agreement. When his party signed up to the confidence and supply arrangement,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: That is one of the reasons the Defence Forces were prioritised by the Government and the Public Service Pay Commission was asked to examine the key challenges we face in the Defence Forces. I am not saying we do not have challenges. I accept that we have significant challenges and these were addressed in the recommendations of the Public Service Pay Commission. I am delighted that both...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Following six months of training, a young person who joins the Defence Forces receives in excess of €28,000, plus whatever allowances he or she is entitled to. I accept that Defence Forces personnel work for their allowances. One of the issues I addressed in recent years was to give people more opportunities to go overseas. That was an important issue to address in the context of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Partnership for Peace (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Ireland's relations with NATO are set within the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and Partnership for Peace. The primary aim of Ireland's Partnership for Peace participation is to enhance the Defence Forces' interoperability with other professional military forces for the purpose of engaging in UN-authorised peacekeeping and peace-support operations led by the UN, EU or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Partnership for Peace (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I have stated on numerous occasions that I defend our traditional policy on military neutrality, even when it comes to Partnership for Peace, in which I am a very strong believer. I mean no disrespect to anyone in this House in saying that I have had the opportunity to go overseas to visit our troops, be they in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon or in the Golan Heights. I see...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medical Services (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I am informed that extensive consideration is ongoing in the area of telemedicine and telementalhealth in the Defence Forces. Telemedicine is currently being trialled on a Defence Forces overseas deployment in the emergency medicine field under the auspices of MEDICO Cork, which is the HSE's national 24 Hour telemedical support unit. Telemental health is widely used within other...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Arising from the first report of the Commission in 2017 and the subsequent Public Service Stability Agreement, the Government tasked the Public Service Pay Commission to undertake a comprehensive examination and analysis of recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. The Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was accepted by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Government appreciates the service of the members of the RDF and recognises the important role that the three elements of the RDF play in contributing to Ireland's defence capability. The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the RDF and it is currently on a development path arising from the recommendations of the White Paper. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (17 Dec 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 73 together. The provision of schools and associated issues is, in the first instance, a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills. The lands in the area of the Defence Forces Training Centre form part of the Curragh Plains, a site unique in terms of its archaeological, environmental, historical and cultural heritage. As custodian...