Results 2,081-2,100 of 4,188 for speaker:Sorca Clarke

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level schools by county that have facilitated an education programme (details supplied) in the years 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [56746/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (15 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: 359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level teachers who have taken part in teacher training programmes funded and delivered by organisations (details supplied) in the years 2021 and to date in 2022. [56747/22]

Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: We now move to the Regional Group and to Deputy Tóibín.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I will be brief. I thank the Minister and his team for coming in. On the future planning for retirees and contingency, the Minister specifically mentioned there was a net increase of 380 over the past three years since 2019, but he said it is projected 430 personnel will retire this year on a lump sum and a pension. In terms of future planning between the retirees, those who are scheduled...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I ask the Chair to give discretion and allow me ask a subsequent question. The Minister is confident that all those who are in receipt of the military pension will have some payment made to them before Christmas, with possibly a further top-up required in the first quarter of 2023. Is it fair to say that?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: The Minister mentioned his monthly meeting with the Chief of Staff on recruitment and retention. Does that meeting also include examining the need for further training to ensure the knowledge gaps that exist when anybody retires from any area can be filled as quickly as possible?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: It was an issue the Minister raised.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I am not sure if this was an oversight or if it was a turn of phrase. Among all the individuals the Minister mentioned, he did not mention using those currently serving in the Defence Forces to fill the knowledge gap caused by losing skill sets from those retiring from the service.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I am talking about retraining, upskilling and promotional opportunities among those who are serving.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: Yes, if the Chair does not mind.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: The Dáil proceedings are running about half an hour ahead of schedule so I will be really brief. On Vote 27, when Dóchas was in with us the last time and it was highlighting the ongoing tragedy that is emerging in the Horn of Africa, one of the statements made was that there have been plenty of pledges but that there are countries out there that need to live up to those pledges....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: That is a lesson other countries should learn from us. They have not picked up their pledges.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: On Vote 28, I refer to the mandatory assessments for the UN. The Minister mentioned there has been a significant increase in contributions. Can he give us some information on why there has been such an increase? Is there an increased work plan from the UN? What is the cause?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: This three-year cycle will essentially even itself out with the previous three-year cycle.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I praise the work of the staff in the Passport Office, on whom phenomenal pressure was placed at some points. It cannot have been an easy place to work at times and that needs to be acknowledged. As difficult as that scenario was from our perspectives, I can only imagine the pressure on the other side of the equation. The Minister spoke about the bulk purchase in advance of passport books,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: Specialist quotes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: I am talking about emigrant support programmes in the UK. This committee heard previously from organisations that work with the returning Irish diaspora. We heard of the difficulties they experience when they want to move back to Ireland. Does any of the allocated funding go towards those companies and organisations that work with Irish people abroad who want to return home? Is that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Sorca Clarke: Habitual residency is another challenge.