Results 2,781-2,800 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on the Crisis in Ukraine: Engagement with Minister for Foreign Affairs (10 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I take it the Russian ambassador has been invited to the Department on more than one occasion recently to hear the Minister's views and those of Ireland on this issue. I assume those views have been expressed very openly such that the Russian Government can be no under no illusion as to how we feel. Will the Minister comment on that? Has the €11 million that is to be provided...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on the Crisis in Ukraine: Engagement with Minister for Foreign Affairs (10 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: There are a number of Irish citizens in Russia and Belarus. Have many managed to get out and how many are left? Has any consideration been given to having our Defence Forces here assist with the intake of refugees?

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

David Stanton: I welcome the Minister and his officials. I recognise and appreciate the significant work the diplomats and officials are doing here and across the world. I commend them on that. Any time I have had reason to contact an embassy or anyone in the Department I have received fantastic co-operation and professional assistance. I want to feed that back. I have three brief questions, the...

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

David Stanton: I join Deputy Brady in wishing our Ministers and the diplomatic staff abroad all the best for the St. Patrick's Day events. I have been there, as I am sure many others have. We have significant programmes of engagement at those events. They are important and open doors. I have a question about Global Ireland 2025. I know culture officers were supplied for New York and London recently....

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

David Stanton: I welcome the Minister and his officials. Irish Aid is doing amazing work across the world. The Chairman will recall that on 8 February last, the committee heard a briefing from Dóchas, Misean Cara, the Marist Asia Foundation, Plan International Ireland and Concern Worldwide, all of which outlined a bleak picture across the world with respect to education. They were all quite...

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

David Stanton: I agree with the Minister of State, having seen that in action. Deputy Brady mentioned at the last session the issue of a one-stop shop or an Oireachtas line for people to contact us. Even during the break, I had a call from a constituent as to how they can help and what they can do with respect to people from Ukraine coming here. It would be a good idea because colleagues across both...

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

David Stanton: I suggested earlier that perhaps the Defence Forces might be invited to assist if they are required because they have a lot of logistical experience and expertise, as Deputy Berry knows well. We recently received an email from Trócaire with respect to the European corporate sustainability due diligence directive. It has certain concerns about the directive. I do not want to open...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: No.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister of State for her response. This review started in October 2019. I know we had a pandemic but it is still ongoing. I understand it is only this year that public representations are being sought. I am disappointed that the Department has no plans to make the change. I would like to know why not. Would it cause some major rupture to policy all over the place? Why is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: Change the plans.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: We need one.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Josepha Madigan, for attending to take this matter. I am back again, as this is my third or fourth time dealing with the issue. The pressure on schools in east Cork again this year is very high. There are long waiting lists in all of the schools and this has been the case for many years, for many reasons. It has led to a situation where parents are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Brexit on Trade in Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I apologise for being late but I have read the presentations. I have just one question for our guests. I have been told that some companies are finding it difficult to get export credit insurance as a result of Brexit. Has the Department looked into this? Is there an ongoing review? With regard to the impact of difficulties with getting export credit insurance, this would put some Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Brexit on Trade in Ireland: Discussion (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: My understanding is that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is carrying out the review but I would appreciate a detailed note on this from the Department when it is available. I have been told by some companies that they are under pressure and it is a very serious matter. We are one of the few countries in this part of the world that does not have a state-backed export...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I welcome the Minister and his officials. I have questions on pensions. Could we get a breakdown of the 300 Permanent Defence Force, PDF, people who retired on pension? Of the 12,890, could the Minister comment on the issue of pension abatement? Where members of the Defence Forces who leave and take up employment in the public sector, their pension is abated. Are there any movements to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: My understanding is the change was brought in as part of the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, although I may be wrong about that. I understand it was to be reviewed with a view to returning to what it had been prior to that but, again, I am not sure whether that is the case. There was some discussion of the issue recently, so I thought I should raise it.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I will be quite brief. I note that the PDF strength is also dropping from 8,659 in 2019 to 8,468 in 2021, which would be a concern. The 2022 Estimate is lower than the 2021 outturn for allowances. Could the Minister comment on why that is the case? Is it because of the reduced numbers in the PDF? Could he provide a breakdown on the PDF strength as well between the Army, the Air Corps and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I think it was in both. There was a gratuity involved certainly with the Army Reserve at one stage. I do not know if it is still there or not or whether it is covered under allowances; I am not sure. As I said, the numbers are dropping. At one stage, there were approximately 15,000 people in the FCA, as it was called way back. Now, that number is down to 1,400 people and dropping. If...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I note that in the briefing we received, under subhead A15, communications and IT, there is no mention of cybersecurity. We have security issues on land, sea and air at this time but the other concern is cybersecurity. I see no figure for that and did not hear any mention of it in the Minister's statement. I know there are confidentiality and security issues involved in this but even...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (9 Mar 2022)

David Stanton: I will be brief because I know it is getting late. I am searching for the recruitment budget, which is important. I see funding for advertising is mentioned under miscellaneous expenditure, with a figure of €450,000. Does that cover recruitment or is recruitment provided for elsewhere? I refer to the figure of €450,000 under A22, relating to miscellaneous expenditure and...