Results 22,761-22,780 of 26,268 for speaker:Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Order of Business (4 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: On a point of order, the Tánaiste has not addressed the question raised by Deputy Niall Collins, which effectively was to ask whether we could have a vote, as we should have, if Second Stage concluded on Friday.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (4 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 111. To ask the Minister for Defence if the terms and conditions of commissioned officers of the Defence Forces are being reneged on in that special service officers, for example, bomb disposal and marine engineers, are being denied their promotion to commandant, contrary to industrial relations agreement, Defence Forces regulation and contract of employment; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (4 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 112. To ask the Minister for Defence if the terms and conditions of commissioned officers of the Defence Forces are further being reneged on in that two potential officers, commissioned from the ranks, from the ninth potential officer course, are being forced to retire as captains at 54 years of age where their terms and conditions provide for the rank of commandant; and if he will make a...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I commend everybody who has been involved in the process of acquisition of this third vessel. It has been very well handled. I have a question on the issue of asbestos in the old ships. Has that matter been fully addressed?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: May I ask two brief questions? In respect of Subhead A 13 - Buildings, has the Department of Defence examined the building stock in Dublin in light of the homeless problem in the city? Finally, the allocation of €860,000 to the Equitation School in Subhead A 20 is definitely money well spent. The Army Equitation School has been for decades phenomenal ambassadors for equitation, the...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I do not doubt that is the Minister's understanding of it but the data available on this raises some fundamental questions.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: It seems extraordinary that we would need 30 plus general practices, and nobody is contradicting that figure, plus in excess of 20 full-time members of the Defence Forces to provide for the needs of 9,500 of the healthiest people in the country. That strikes me as extraordinary.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Will the Minister give an outline of how these particular pay and allowances savings have been achieved? Has the number of civilian employees reduced, for instance? Have contracts been cancelled and are members of the Defence Forces undertaking roles previously undertaken by civilian workers? Regarding the engagement of civilian medical practitioners, I read in the notes that the...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Deputy Alan Farrell referred to the recent presentation we had from the Army and Naval Service reserve. The presentations were very impressive and compelling. They expressed very serious concern about the commitment of the Department of Defence to their continued operation. One has further cause to wonder about that when one sees here that the overall allocation is quite modest, and that...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: This brings members back to the discussion they had with the Minister during the last Question Time when they acknowledged the extent to which the Department of Defence and the members of the Permanent Defence Force have been exemplary in their delivery of change, on the modernisation and the way in which they have reacted to reform. To a certain extent, through the Estimates the Minister...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The saving in the subhead seems to very substantial - just short of €5 million. That is significant by any standard. Has the Department reduced the number of civilian employees-----

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Yes. The subhead covers the payment of salaries and allowances for civil servants of the Department. As I understand it, the savings are of the order of €5 million. Are the savings due to a reduction in the number of civilians working in the Department or the transfer of duties previously undertaken by civilians to members of the Permanent Defence Force or have the savings been...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: That seems to be at variance with the notes in front of me where it says there is a cut of €5 million to pay and allowances of civilian staff. Perhaps I am misinterpreting the information.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: There is a differentiation between a civil servant and civilian staff?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Are we talking about operatives?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Minister is aware of the concern of Opposition Deputies about the continued use of lariam within the Defence Forces. Is any of the provision of €9.4 million being paid to members who have left the force as a consequence of the use of lariam?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Business of Select Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I nominate Deputy Alan Farrell.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I have an allied question, the working out of the 21 year requirement for service. If the hoped for amendments to those requirements are not reached, would particular provisions need to be made in terms of the Department's pension provision into the future?

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (2 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 297. To ask the Minister for Defence the anti-malarial medications being provided for those members of the Defence Forces travelling to Sierra Leone; if he is satisfied that Defence Forces' policy in regard to the use of anti-malaria medication is in line with international best practice. [45836/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Collection (2 Dec 2014)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 488. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to address their non-principal private residence demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46011/14]