Results 1,281-1,300 of 1,415 for speaker:Tom Kitt

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I am sharing time with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey. I will conclude in one minute. The referendum presents us with an important decision about our future. Two different paths are available to us. The opponents of the reform treaty argue that we should turn our backs on six years of painstaking negotiations, which have produced a remarkable consensus among the 27...

Written Answers — Trade Statistics: Trade Statistics (9 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: The data requested by the Deputy is presented in the table for 2000 to 2007 incl. The table shows the merchandise trade balance for the countries requested i.e. exports minus imports over the period. Balance of Trade (Merchandise Exports minus Imports) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 Burma -1,249 -584 161...

Defence Forces Expenditure. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Defence due to illness. The overall system of financial management and accountability in respect of defence spending was specially reviewed as part of the efficiency audit group process in the 1990s. As a result, the Government decided that the Secretary General of the Department of Defence should continue to be the Accounting Officer for all...

Defence Forces Expenditure. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: It is important to acknowledge that the Defence Forces has been one of the success stories of public service reform. The structures, roles and reporting arrangements of organisations differ from the management of defence. I would like to reflect briefly on the difference between the Garda and the Defence Forces, although we do not have much time. The Department of Defence, with a Minister...

Defence Forces Expenditure. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: Looking to the future, the organisation and management of the Defence Forces will be improved and modernised as required, but I stand by my position with regard to the difference between the areas of defence and justice.

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 4 together. The European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007), was formally launched by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 January 2008. Ireland will be the second largest contributor to the...

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I thank the Deputy for his remarks.

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I can assure the Deputy as to the pay and conditions on the ship because that is part and parcel of the standards that apply in this situation. With regard to the recent incidents in Chad, in early February and on 1 April, fighting took place between Chadian forces and rebels. EUFOR personnel were not involved in these incidents. EUFOR has no role in the protection of the sovereign...

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: On the final point, each battalion will provide a role one medical facility at the battalion headquarters, at Goz Beida in the case of the Irish battalion. This medical support includes the capability to provide first aid, immediate life-saving measures and triage. Three role two facilities are available at N'Djamena, operated by the French, at Abeche, by Italy and at Berrau in the Central...

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: Medevac choppers are available. As I said, we will keep Opposition spokespersons continuously updated prior to the end of May.

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I have met Lieutenant General Nash on a number of occasions and will forward the request made by Members to him. I feel this would be appropriate at a particular time but he is very engaged in the process at the moment.

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: The figures I have suggest there are around 4,200 refugees in the camps and among those there are internally displaced persons, IDPs. I understand that this figure is remaining constant. We will keep the Deputy updated on changes in the figures. The Deputy is correct that there has been a warm welcome for troops and in my view the communication system is working well. As we all said...

Overseas Development Aid. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: The primary role of the Defence Forces, when deployed overseas, is to undertake essential peacekeeping and peacemaking operations under a UN mandate. As part of their participation in peace support operations, the Defence Forces have traditionally adopted a number of small-scale humanitarian operations in support of the local communities where they are deployed. Recent examples of this are...

Overseas Development Aid. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I totally agree with the Deputy regarding the huge value of this work. When I addressed the House on the last occasion, I mentioned that I had been privileged to visit Liberia and see the projects in which our Defence Forces are involved. Since I last spoke I have visited Kosovo and witnessed the great work our Defence Forces are involved in there, such as the construction of classrooms and...

Overseas Development Aid. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I feel we should encourage projects that help development. I am not suggesting that Irish people are exceptionally special but Irish Army personnel serving abroad have shown they have great skill, commitment and interest when it comes to humanitarian work. When this arises, on a case by case basis, the Government should be supportive.

Defence Forces Allowances. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: A claim for an increase in overseas allowance was received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, under the conciliation and arbitration scheme, C & A scheme, for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The claim has been the subject of correspondence between the Department and the representative...

Defence Forces Allowances. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: Irish troops are deployed on missions in many locations throughout the world on pay and allowances that are not established by reference to any particular mission. They are established in the normal course, including through discussions through the conciliation and arbitration scheme. That is the way the process operates. There is no unnecessary prolonging of the negotiations in this case....

Defence Forces Allowances. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I would like to see this matter proceed as quickly as possible. My Department and the Department of Finance are available to both associations. Let us try to get moving on this issue as quickly as possible.

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 15, 31 and 47 together. Military medical services and their facilities exist to maintain the health of the Defence Forces and to support them in operational and overseas activities. The focus of the military medical service is on primary care, occupational medicine, acute trauma management, preventative medical programmes and field medical training. The...

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: Much of this issue will hinge on the work of the consultants. There are issues to be addressed. At the end of the summer the consultants will be appointed and later in the year we will have the report. The Deputy is correct in saying that full information concerning the patients charter should become available. I have asked for a copy of the charter. The Deputy asked that the charter be...