Results 421-440 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 67 together. The VFM review of the Reserve Defence Force, which was selected for review as part of the 2009 – 2011 phase of the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review initiative, commenced in February 2010. A Steering Committee comprising representatives from the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Department of Finance has been...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The costs associated with the site acquisition, building construction and fit-out are borne on the Vote of the Office of Public Works. The OPW anticipates the overall cost will be €34m approximately. Confirmation of the overall cost will become available on completion of the final accounts by the OPW. In addition, approximately €1.16m has been provided for in 2010 by the Department of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Remuneration: Defence Forces Remuneration (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The circumstances surrounding individual applications for Family Income Supplement and the payment of the supplement is a private matter between the applicant and the Department of Social Protection. My Department would not be aware, therefore, if members of the Defence Forces are in receipt of the Supplement.

Written Answers — Ombudsman Reports: Ombudsman Reports (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 provides that the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is independent in the performance of her duties and I do not consider it appropriate for me to report on her behalf. However I welcome the Fourth Annual Report, and the work done by the Ombudsman, Ms. Paulyn Marrinan Quinn, since the establishment of this important Office in 2005. I believe that in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Inquiries: Defence Forces Inquiries (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 73 and 74 together. The military authorities have advised that the position regarding members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) engaging in off-duty employment is that membership of the PDF is a full time professional occupation, which from time to time may involve long, arduous, and unsocial hours of duty at the member's home station or elsewhere...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: A new Gymnasium was completed in Custume Barracks, Athlone in 2009 at a cost of €1.7m approx. In addition it is expected that contracts will be placed within the coming weeks for new garaging facilities and an upgrade of service facilities at the Barracks. A number of other smaller projects are also underway including upgrading of storage facilities and military police facilities at the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: A national breakdown of the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force per rank is provided in the following table. A breakdown per unit is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available. I am aware that effective numbers in the Reserve have declined over recent years. The total strength of the Reserve includes personnel who are categorised as...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I was delighted the Government accepted my recommendation last month to nominate Major General Sean McCann for appointment by the President as Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. I look forward to working closely with Lieutenant General McCann in the future and I wish him every success in his endeavours. Lieutenant General McCann succeeds Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, who sadly passed...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The only corporate membership held by the Department is to the Institute of International & European Affairs (IIEA). The IIEA is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. Its extensive research programme aims to provide its members with high level analysis and forecasts of the challenges on the global and EU policy agendas which impact on Ireland. The annual...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The mission of Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to promote the Irish horse sector abroad through participation in international competition. In 2009 and to date in 2010, the Equitation School has continued to discharge this task, competing in national and international events in showjumping and three day eventing. During 2009, Riding Officers riding...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The pension-related deduction (commonly known as the pension levy) was provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The reductions in public service pay effective from 1 January 2010 were provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009. Each of these Acts applies exclusively to public servants (with some exceptions...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, the Defence Forces in their role as aid to the civil power (an Garda Síochána) and aid to the civil authorities (i.e. local authorities, HSE, etc.) can be called upon to provide support to locally based services. During the period of severe weather conditions earlier this year all assets, resources and capabilities of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: In the context of settling the Estimates for my Department for 2010, the Government decided that the national sail training scheme operated by Coiste an Asgard would be discontinued as recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure. As a result of that decision, the sum of €3.8m representing the insured value of Asgard II was transferred to the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: In March 2009, the Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service. This moratorium prevented the planned recruitment of members of the Reserve to the PDF for the purpose of overseas service, as intended. Reductions in the Defence payroll budget at that time also limited the scope for payment of additional personnel. Accordingly, arrangements to send members of the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Following the decision to withdraw the Irish Contingent from the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic of Chad (MINURCAT), the priority for the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces was to achieve an orderly withdrawal of personnel and equipment from the country. The Irish contingent deployed with MINURCAT was withdrawn in May 2010 and I am advised that the recovery of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: A breakdown by rank of personnel who have left the Permanent Defence Force in 2009 and up to 31 May 2010, the latest date for which figures are available, is provided in the following tabular statement. Within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Permanent Defence Force. Government approval was...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Government introduced the Irish Government Offsetting Scheme for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from official travel on 24 June 2008. The administrative structures to permit the scheme to become fully operational were put in place in 2009. The first payment under this scheme was made in April 2009 in respect of the period 14 June 2007 to 31 December 2008 and amounted to €1,538...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: A number of the Department's branches decentralised to Galway in 1989. The total cost in relation to travel and subsistence payments for staff in the Galway office is outlined in the table below: Travel & Subsistence Costs for Department of Defence Staff based in Decentralised Offices in Galway Year Domestic Travel & Subsistence Foreign Travel & Subsistence Total Amount 2008 €72,508...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The information requested in respect of the Department and the Defence Forces is outlined in the table below: Year Total Expenditure 2009 â'¬139,797.50 2010 (to 7/7/2010) â'¬26,032.26 I am satisfied that the above expenditure is appropriate and I remain committed to ensuring that my Department achieves value for money in relation to all forms of advertising.

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (7 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 319 together. A strategy for the replacement of Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) is currently in progress following the commencement of a tender competition in 2007. The competition sought tenders for the purchase of two OPVs with an option for a third. Following tender evaluation, a preferred bidder was selected last year and detailed...