Results 23,761-23,780 of 26,268 for speaker:Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Other Questions: Defence Forces Expenditure (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Speaking to the Institute of International and European Affairs in September, the Minister stated Ireland's expenditure on defence as a proportion of GDP was one of the lowest in the European Union, while the Defence Forces are assigned wider roles than the defence forces of most other member states. He also indicated any consideration of Defence Forces resourcing must have regard to these...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: We welcome his appointment.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 7. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on whether the current balance between the three services within the Defence Forces is appropriate for an island nation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46843/13]

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I raise this question in the context of the impending Green Paper. I want to ask the Minister for Defence for his views on the current balance between the three services within the Defence Forces, particularly whether that balance is appropriate in the context of this being an island nation.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Some 80% of the Permanent Defence Force in Ireland is in the Army, with 11.3% in the Naval Service and 8.5% in the Air Corps. This compares, for example, with another island nation, New Zealand, where 27% are in the air corps and 23% in the naval service. The Irish Maritime Forum made a number of interesting comments and constructive proposals in this regard. There is no doubt that, for an...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: In that matter of the White Paper, the steering group in 2000 consisted of a major-general, a colonel, an assistant secretary and a principal officer. The working group which was founded at the time consisted of two colonels and two principal officers. There was no permanent naval representative on either group. In hindsight, that is something I very much regret. Does the Minister intend...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I welcome the follow-up response from the Minister. It needs to be said that we cannot be distracted by the moves in Syria to deal with chemical weapons. There is still chaos there. Will the Minister assure us our troops have freedom of movement across the Golan Heights and in their area of responsibility?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 4. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the participation of the Defence Forces in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46965/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Last July, Fianna Fáil was happy to support the deployment of a contingent of Irish Defence Forces personnel to the Golan Heights in Syria, but that was done against the background of international concern and in a situation where the Austrian, Croatian and Japanese authorities had withdrawn their troops. What we seek today is an assurance of the continued safety of personnel serving in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Minister for his response and join him in wishing success to the troops. Our mutual concern is to ensure the success of the mission and the well-being of all involved. Any involvement in a UN mission axiomatically involves a degree of risk, but it is important that we are fully conscious of the particular situation that continues to exist in Syria generally and the Golan Heights...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Minister's predecessors made decisions about the orderly wind-down of this service. A survey by local people of the GP services, many of which I know, indicate that they cannot accommodate the number of people involved, which is more than 1,000. The Minister's decision is wrong. A duty of care rests with the GP who provides the service in the Curragh and the Defence Forces. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Minister is unilaterally withdrawing it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Minister presumes correctly. Nor did I suggest it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 1. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will reconsider his decision to close the Curragh Families Clinic; his views on whether the proposal to close it is contrary to the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46964/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I do not know about the 30 second rule as it does not allow us to do very much. Some weeks ago it was announced that the Department of Defence was to close the Curragh families clinic, which supplies primary care facilities for 480 families. The decision has caused shock in the community and will cause enormous hardship for the 480 families affected. It is a serious breach of the terms of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Family Clinics (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Viewed as a desktop exercise, what the Minister said is probably correct. However, his response shows an ignorance of what is, in fact, the community dynamic at the Curragh Camp where primary care facilities have been available since prior to the foundation of the State. The British army was able to provide services for the communities on the Curragh. The Minister is correct that previous...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 17. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the Defence Forces mission to the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46839/13]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battlegroups (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 27. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans for the Defence Forces to participate in any EU Battlegroups in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46842/13]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (6 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 28. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on whether the triple lock has served the State well; his views on the fact that Ireland’s contribution to international peacekeeping is not constrained in any significant way by it; his further views that a UN mandate is vital if a peacekeeping mission is to be effective in achieving its goals; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Arrears Code of Conduct (5 Nov 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 192. To ask the Minister for Finance the options available to a mortgage holder who finds that his or her lending agency disregards the code of conduct on mortgage arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46396/13]