Results 5,841-5,860 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Ireland joined Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in December 2017 following Government and Dáil approval. The establishment of PESCO represents a further development in EU Cooperation in support of international peace and security under CSDP. Under PESCO, Member States will come together in different groups to develop and make available additional capabilities and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: In 2018, the overarching turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was just below 8.1%.  The average turnover rate since 2002 is 6.3% with a peak of 8.58% in 2012.  This level of turnover, or higher, is often seen in other military organisations. This overarching turnover rate can be further broken down. At its most basic level, this can be categorised as trained...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Brexit Preparations (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: As part of a whole of Government approach, my Department continues to engage in forward planning with the other Departments involved in addressing all issues relevant to the UK's decision to leave the European Union. This engagement involves the identification of key strategic, operational and policy issues arising from Brexit. As I have outlined previously,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I gave approval for the Defence Forces to host the NATO Maritime Medical Conference in Cork.    This conference is held annually and is hosted in a different country each year.  The conference is open to participation by Partnership for Peace countries.  The objective of the conference is to provide medical staff with pragmatic updates and information exchanges on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 20 together. Deputies will already be aware of the ongoing efforts made by my Department to fill the vacancy left by the previous in-house military psychiatrist, who retired in May 2018. In this regard, a direct entrant competition for the position of military psychiatrist, which closed on 30th September 2018, yielded no...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Veterans (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The issues arising from the recognition by the President of the United States of America of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade made clear in a statement of 25th March, 2019, that Ireland, along with the rest of the international community, continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I can confirm for the Deputy that there are no plans to relocate 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment from its current location at Custume Barracks, Athlone. I am satisfied that the current Army structures optimise the capacity of the Defence Forces to continue to fulfil all of the roles assigned by Government.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to emergencies caused by severe weather events, such as storms and flooding, rests with the three designated principal response agencies, namely, the relevant Local Authority, An Garda Síochána, and the Health Service Executive.  The Defence Forces provide the fullest possible...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Paper on Defence (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Commission on the Future of Policing was established by the Government in May 2017 in order to carry out a fundamental examination of all aspects of policing in this State and to bring forward proposals to the Government for the  future of policing. The Commission reported in September 2018 and implementation is now being overseen by an Implementation Group on Policing Reform. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping and has participated in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission since its establishment in 1978.  The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon continues to represent Ireland's largest overseas deployment with 460 personnel.  Ireland's participation in UN and UN-mandated peacekeeping...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I would like to clarify that in March 2019, as part of the Governments planned St. Patrick's day schedule of events, I visited Cyprus, Lebanon and Jordan.  I did not visit the Golan Heights in March and I have not visited the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights this year to date.  I am further advised by the Defence Forces that they...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 30 together. The Curragh plains are an important working facility for the Defence Forces, the horse racing industry and sheep owners who avail of long established rights of pasture.  As both a working environment and a high value amenity of ecological importance, I am keenly aware of the multiple challenges facing my Department in ensuring the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Operations (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: As outlined in my response to the Parliamentary Question earlier this month to which you refer, Operation Sophia has played a decisive role in improving the overall maritime security in the Central Mediterranean. Operation Sophia is primarily a security operation, designed to disrupt the traffickers business model and counter oil and weapons smuggling, rather than a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: In 2018, the overarching turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was just below 8.1%.  The average turnover rate since 2002 was 6.3% with a peak of 8.58% in 2012.  This level of turnover, or higher, is often seen in other military organisations. This overarching turnover level does not illustrate important underlying trends. As the rate of turnover within a military...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: Ireland's participation in PESCO was agreed by Government and approved by Dáil Éireann prior to the Council Decision establishing PESCO on 11 December 2017. As a participant in PESCO, Ireland is required to participate in one PESCO project. There are currently 34 PESCO Projects that are being developed covering areas such as training, land, maritime, air, cyber,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Brexit Preparations (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: As part of a whole of Government approach, my Department continues to engage in forward planning with the other Departments involved in addressing all issues relevant to the UK's decision to leave the European Union. This engagement involves the identification of key strategic, operational and policy issues arising from Brexit. As I have outlined previously,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Since 5thFebruary 2003, the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: EU Training Mission (EUTM) Mali is part of a wider EU effort in support of international peace and security in the wider Sahel region. The mission is being undertaken at the request of the Malian Government and has the support of a UN Security Council Resolution. I am advised that there are three anti-malarial drugs, namely Lariam (Mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline which continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Middle East Issues (11 Apr 2019)

Paul Kehoe: The issues arising from the recognition by the President of the United States of America of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade made clear in a statement of 25th March, 2019, that Ireland, along with the rest of the international community, continues to...