Results 1,841-1,860 of 9,163 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Gambling Control Bill 2018: Referral to Select Committee [Private Members] (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice and Equality pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 141.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 80. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of new recruits in the Defence Forces since 2011; and the number of those recruits who are no longer in the Defence Forces. [20390/18]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 97. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 27 February 2018, the status of pension increases which were due to be applied shortly including arrears due to the start of the year; when this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20257/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Administration (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 266. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average processing times for applications for partial capacity benefit; her views on whether the time it is taking to process such applications is discouraging persons from returning to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20301/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I thank both witnesses for coming before the committee today. To follow on from Deputy O'Callaghan's questions, how would the witnesses construct a scheme? A lot of the commission's statement and submission deals with the restrictions in terms of how the Government has set about transposing the directive and I agree with the commission's views in that regard. I ask the witnesses to set out...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: What restrictions, if any, would the commission want to see applied? Would it want asylum seekers to be given every opportunity in terms of healthcare, education, work and to see the removal all of the administrative barriers in order to facilitate people as much as possible? The commission is coming at this issue from the polar opposite position of the Department. How can the Department...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: It is impossible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: Does Ms Logan believe that when the statutory instrument is brought forward, it will be as restrictive as the current arrangement? What will be the legal context if there is no effective access, as referred to by the court?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: Have political leaders said that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I was not aware of any political leader saying it. As Deputy Jim O'Callaghan said, the committee will have a limited role in regard to the statutory instrument but I hope that by giving Ms Emily Logan a hearing today, there will be a generous transposition so people will be given appropriate access and an effective right to work. As the commission said, if their rights are undermined,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 1. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the 2012 restructuring of the Defence Forces will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I echo the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's welcome to the delegation. My question is to ask the Minister of State at the Department of Defence if he will review the 2012 restructuring of the Defence Forces and if he will make a statement on the matter. As the Minister of State knows, we had the first southern brigade headquarters in Cork, the second eastern headquarters in Dublin and the fourth...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: As the Minister of State knows, the 2012 restructuring continues to generate controversy. In all the meetings I have had with many people working in the Defence Forces and with the representative bodies, it has been a constant theme and there is a unanimous belief that it has been a mistake. Take for example, the people who might be in Finner Camp, who have to pick up their arms in Athlone,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: The consolidation was an attempt to get the full capacity out of those in the Defence Forces. However, it has cut many people to the bone. They have hardship and significant travel times, which undermine their ability to be at home with their families. The 2015 University of Limerick report highlighted these outcomes and feelings within the Defence Forces. Instead of cutting them to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 3. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the personnel strength of the Defence Forces was lower at the end of February 2018 than at the end of February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20688/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: What are the reasons the personnel strength of the Defence Forces was lower at the end of February 2018 than at the end of February 2017? Will the Minister of State make a statement on the matter? As he knows, the Defence Forces face a full-blown retention crisis. Despite attempts to enhance recruitment we are haemorrhaging massive numbers. Why does the Minister of State believe that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I am surprised the Minister of State mentioned there are normal retirement patterns and that they match that long-term trend. There was a massive recruitment campaign last year of 860 personnel, but there are fewer personnel this year than there were last year. Clearly this does not match any long-term trend. Look at the figures. A total of 30% of members of the organisation have left the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: At the committee meeting last week, the Minister of State said he has written to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regarding what he says is a retention issue. Writing to somebody with whom he sits at Cabinet is not an adequate political response to what is an issue, as the Minister of State has admitted himself. There needs to be an escalation with regard to the serious pay...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 17. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to scrap or lower intelligence tests which are used to select recruits to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20387/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reorganisation (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 26. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the 2012 restructuring of the Defence Forces will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20385/18]