Results 6,701-6,720 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (4 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: 171. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in forwarding the information in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40581/18]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (4 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: 262. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a funding scheme is available for a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40424/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I am not sure if the Deputy heard but I have recognised the challenges facing the Defence Forces on various occasions recently. We are going through a process. As I stated in my original reply, under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, PSSA, anybody with a salary of under €70,000 will have his or her salary restored to pre-FEMPI levels by 2020. The work of the Public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I announced this morning that the contingents will return home on Tuesday, 16 October. I took the decision this morning that personnel delayed in returning home will receive a €1,000ex gratia payment in recognition of the disruption caused. I announced that in recognition of what the families are going through. This was done before the Deputy raised the issue. I have spoken to some...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 55, 62, 64 and 65 together. The current whole-time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force for the end of September is estimated at just over 9,000 personnel. The Government remains committed to returning to and maintaining the agreed strength of the PDF at 9,500 personnel, as set out in the White Paper on Defence 2015. In order to achieve...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: On Deputy Smith's point about pay and conditions, I accept we have challenges in the Defence Forces, which I have highlighted at every given opportunity. I look forward to the outcome of the Public Service Pay Commission's deliberations. A number of processes are continuing under the PSSA, including pay restoration. The Defence Forces and civil and military management have also made a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyber Security Policy (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I must admit I have not seen the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General so I cannot comment on its contents. In budget 2018 additional funding was secured for additional personnel and technology in the national cybersecurity centre. A significant programme of recruitment will commence shortly. I take on board the Deputy's points but this is a whole-of-Government approach led by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyber Security Policy (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: There is proper accountability at present in the Department of the Minister, Deputy Naughten. The question raised by the Deputy about the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General would be more appropriately addressed to the Minister, Deputy Naughten. Within the Defence Forces on the security side, we have people dedicated to working on cybersecurity. It would be a matter for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Given the unique and demanding nature of military life, there is, understandably, a relatively high level of turnover among Defence Forces personnel. This is not new and the Defence Forces have always had a level of turnover that exceeds other areas of the public service. To balance personnel turnover, there is ongoing recruitment at enlisted and officer level. This includes general...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service Vessels (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I do not believe we should scrap the project. This is a commitment from the Government. We will continue until tendering stage. When we get to that stage we will look at the resource envelope available to the Defence Forces. I make no apologies for equipping members of the Defence Forces with the very best equipment.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (3 Oct 2018)

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 2015 is the provision of aid to the civil power, ATCP, which in practice means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. On each occasion that the support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I acknowledge the points the Deputy has made and will take them on board. However, his question is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I know the Deputy is passionate about this issue, but the involvement of the Defence Forces solely consists of aid to the civil power to An Garda Síochána. I am aware that the Deputy has raised this issue on a number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I do not want to be flippant with the Deputy, but I will take his points back to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney. I know the Deputy is very passionate about this, and I understand that he has his concerns. I will pass them on. The involvement of members of the Defence Forces here is confined to ATCP. We are not involved in policy or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyber Security Policy (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As outlined in the Government's White Paper on Defence 2015, the issue of cybersecurity has very significant implications for governmental administration, industry, economic well-being and the security and safety of citizens. Cybersecurity is a standing item on the agenda of the Government task force on emergency planning which I chair. The response to cyber threats remains a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Garda Commissioner does not set pay levels for members of An Garda Síochána.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: That does not matter because he still does not set pay levels for members of An Garda Síochána. The minimum wage level of a member of the Defence Forces is €27,000. That trained young private could be 22 or 23 years old and have one child, two children or none at all. That is the way it is, but there is support available in the form of the working family payment, if required.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy knows how the working family payment scheme works. I do not have to explain it to him.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: He has to accept this. The payment is made in certain circumstances and supports families, if needed and required. That is why it is available. I am doing my best in advocating on behalf of the Defence Forces and have stated I live up to my responsibilities. I listen to the representative associations, be it the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, or...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service Vessels (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: My priority as Minister of State with responsibility for defence matters is to ensure the operational capability of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by the Government, both at home and overseas. As the State’s principal sea-going agency and in accordance...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service Vessels (3 Oct 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I have firmly believed since my appointment that members of the Defence Forces should be equipped to the very best standard. That is exactly what the Government has been doing in the past few years. There has been significant investment in the Naval Service. I do not see the Defence Forces being involved in any aggressive military operation. The Deputy is fully aware of our policy of...