Results 381-400 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Defence Forces Equipment (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: It predates my time so I will answer from memory. My recollection is that it was fully insured and that the full insurance was paid, approximately €3.8 million. My understanding is this money came to the Department of Defence, but was de facto transferred to the Exchequer.

Defence Forces Equipment (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: As the Deputies will be aware, Coiste an Asgard is still in existence. I had a meeting with the coiste a month or two ago at which we explored some of the questions put by Deputy O'Shea. At this point in time, I do intend revisiting decisions that have been made on the future of the programme. This is as much, if not more, for financial reasons than for any other consideration. A sail...

Defence Forces Equipment (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I understand there has been some diving activity. As far as I can establish, permission was not received from the Irish authorities and may well have been refused, and likewise from the French authorities. My understanding is that when the Asgard II sank, before divers could be deployed on behalf of the coiste and the Department, permission had first to be sought from the French...

Departmental Staff (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The number of whole-time equivalent staff in the Department in May 2010 at the grade of assistant principal officer or higher is 51.3. Two people at assistant principal level or equivalent were recruited from outside the Civil Service as provided for under the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016. As all subsequent staff resources have been sourced from the central applications...

Departmental Staff (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: There are two categories for which that is practical, the first being the general recruitment category. The second is in those cases where, from time to time, specialists such as accountants, solicitors and so on may be required. It would be wise to have recourse to the private sector generally in recruiting those staff, and I have no objection in principle to external recruitment. The...

Departmental Staff (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: There are approximately 350 staff; I will come back to the Deputy with the exact figure.

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 58 and 62 together. Ireland has offered, through the UN stand-by arrangements system, UNSAS, to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. With regard to future deployments, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in regard to participation in various missions, and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. When...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The second question is somewhat specialised. Irish troops will participate in the Nordic battle group later this year when they go out to a location in Sweden in September. In regard to the lead-in period one would envisage, one of the surprising elements if one looks back historically at Ireland's involvement in UN missions is that on virtually no occasion, when a mission ended, could one...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is a massive logistical undertaking to take out all the troops and equipment and then to have to send them back again. When one considers the type of over-land route that must be traversed in the case of Chad, with virtually no roads whatever, it is a huge undertaking. It would be difficult to be enthusiastic about engaging in it, but if the need arose and the UN were to make a request,...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: We have an opportunity at the moment to prepare seriously for the deployment of a battalion in some entirely new location. It is difficult to do that when there are troops on various overseas missions, as was the case during the period of the Chad deployment. We now have an opportunity to do something we have not been able to do for some time. In general terms, the turnover in Chad was on...

Defence Forces Property (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 70 together. The Defence Forces property portfolio is kept under ongoing review to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. This includes ongoing review of the organisation, structure and formation of the forces and the consequential requirement for military barracks...

Defence Forces Property (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: If the only considerations were value for money, operational flexibility, management of resources and so on, there would be a compelling case for consolidation into a relatively small number of locations. However, other considerations arise with regard to deployment of the Defence Forces. Any move would have associated costs. A balance must be struck and consideration must be given to the...

Defence Forces Property (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I have held several meetings with community groups, local authorities and educational authorities with regard to some of these locations. I am well disposed to accommodating them where possible. I must be careful not to set a precedent which could be used against the Department's better interests, especially financially, with regard to some potential outcomes. I am familiar with one case,...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I welcome Deputy Stanton, the new Fine Gael spokesperson on defence. I acknowledge the hard work and difficult questions put to me by Deputy Deenihan heretofore. Ireland has offered, through the UN stand-by arrangements system, UNSAS, to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army, excluding reserves,...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: No consideration has been given to any specific location. The question is about the UNIFIL mission. The reality is that, following a very difficult mission such as that undertaken in Chad, there will be considerable work to be done on the equipment on its return. This will take time. Issues arise over leave for the military personnel. Work is to be done in that regard. We served with...

Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: A period of a month or short few months would not be a practical period within which to deploy troops and equipment overseas. An assessment of the state of the equipment used in Chad will be conducted when it is returned. That may be in the last week of this month. Some work will undoubtedly be required. Issues arise over leave and other matters. A longer period would be required.

Irish Red Cross Society (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous body, established by the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939 pursuant to the Red Cross Act 1938. The society is a charitable organisation with full powers to manage and administer its affairs through its governing body, the central council. Membership of the central council is by way of appointment by the Government or by election in accordance...

Irish Red Cross Society (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I agree with Deputy O'Shea that the continuation of controversies surrounding the Red Cross is undesirable. We would like to do anything we can to address them. The Deputy will remember that, the first time I answered parliamentary questions as Minister, one of my concerns related to the indications at the time that legislative change to proceed with some of the changes recommended by the...

Irish Red Cross Society (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The case for an interim chairperson would be absolute were we clear on the mandate that he or she would be given. In the current circumstances, I would like to be clear on the legislative base, the 1939 orders in the first instance and what we need to achieve in terms of the working group's recommendations before approaching someone and asking him or her to take on a specific job. Lumbering...

Defence Forces Strength (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF. Government approval was secured in the context of budget 2010 for a level of 10,000, all ranks. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the report of the special group on public service numbers and...