Results 681-700 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: Since the late 1990's, the Defence Forces have participated in peace support operations in the Western Balkans through their troop presence in the UN mandated NATO-led KFOR mission in Kosovo and in the UN mandated EU-led Operation ALTHEA (formerly SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the security situation has continued to improve in Kosovo in recent years, on 11 June 2009 NATO Defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Force Review Implementation Plan both identified the requirement to address the age profile in the Defence Forces. The key element in military life is the need for personnel to maintain a level of fitness for combat readiness. This requirement must be balanced with the need to retain experience and expertise, particularly at managerial...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: Emergency plans are in place for a number of specific emergency scenarios such as an influenza pandemic or a nuclear incident. As the Deputy will be aware, emergency planning in this country is developed on the 'lead department' principle. This means that each department is responsible for planning for emergencies that fall within its area of responsibility and for activating its emergency...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: My Department does not employ any private security firm to secure barracks occupied by the Defence Forces. However, private firms have, on occasion, been used to secure property that has been vacated by the Military. The cost incurred in 2008 was €166,851.73, in 2009 was €23,123.43 and to date in 2010 is €2,399.72.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: There were 54 military properties overheld at 31 December 2009. Of these 54, agreements are in place with 11 of the occupants to purchase the properties as they are located outside of barracks. Negotiations to sell will soon commence in another two cases that are also situated outside barracks. The remaining 41 properties overheld are located at the Curragh, 38 within the confines of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 179 together. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 March 2010, the latest date for which...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: The following tabular statements provide a breakdown of the number of officers serving in the Permanent Defence Force on the basis of both rank and gender for each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, and up to 31 March 2010, the latest date for which figures are available. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: There are a total of 27 aircraft in operational service with the Air Corps at present, comprising 10 helicopters and 17 fixed wing aircraft. The types of the aircraft are set out in the following tabular statement, which will be circulated with the Official Report. As the Deputy is aware, a very significant level of investment in new equipment for the Air Corps has taken place in recent...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: There has been very significant investment in equipment for the Defence Forces in recent years covering the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces will remain a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. It is, however, imperative that my Department and the Defence Forces look to whatever efficiencies we can make taking into account the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Defence Forces at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which Government approval has been secured in the context of Budget 2010. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. The following table shows the total strength of the Permanent...

Defence Forces Deployment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: We all share Deputy Deenihan's concern about the impact of drugs in our society. A substantial proportion is imported by sea and unfortunately, the people involved in this business have found all sorts of ways to get the narcotics into the country. Patrolling per se is not a hugely important part of the system for detecting the arrival or the possible importation of drugs. As electronic...

Defence Forces Deployment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: If we do not, I will find a way to include a bit of it in the preceding reply.

Defence Forces Deployment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: I think we will reach the question, as there are only four more before it. As regards the Naval Service's joint operations annually, in 2006 there were three operations where the Naval Service was called in. In 2007, the figure was five, in 2008 it was also five and in 2009 it was two. I do not have an approximate value for the drugs found on those occasions, but I will try to get it for...

Defence Forces Deployment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: To revert to the Deputy's original point, I agree with him that there is a deterrent value in having ships on the ocean waves and that it recognised. In practice, however, because of the nature of electronic surveillance, as well as Garda and customs service information, it is more common that it is the genesis of a report. Naval patrols are, of course, conscious of suspicious movements of...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together. Within the available resources, the Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Defence Forces at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which Government approval has been secured in the context of budget 2010. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the report of the special group on public service numbers and...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: Deputy O'Shea is right in that we all have to contend with the difficulties thrown up by the current economic situation. However, as I explained in the original answer, the Department and the military authorities are discussing exactly where the most serious need arises. There is a requirement within the Army itself and there are also specialist roles in the Naval Service and Air Corps. We...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: I accept the point made by Deputy Deenihan with regard to the 2007 programme for Government. It is true that things have changed very dramatically in economic terms since then. The McCarthy report recommended a reduction in numbers from 10,500 to 10,000 and that has been agreed. In response to Deputy O'Shea, when we start recruiting, we should in the initial phase try to ensure people are...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: There would not be an appreciable saving in the event of a delay of a month or so and that should not be a consideration. Recruitment should be targeted at areas where the most immediate need arises. While I am well disposed to the idea of panels, I realise one of their major downsides is the uncertainty of recruitment. In one year 50 people might be recruited from a panel, in another year...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: I agree with Deputy Deenihan that a number of people will leave and that this must be taken into account in the context of the recruitment campaign. This would give additional flexibility in areas where there are particular needs. I am not in a position to give any advice with regard to the issue of the gratuity. It is one of the great imponderables with regard to the public sector...

Defence Forces Medical Services. (21 Apr 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 88 together. The PA report assessed the current arrangements for the provision of medical services and proposed a model for future delivery of those services. The consultants recommended a programme of major change. The high level recommendations include a centralised command structure for the Medical Corps and the creation of a medical services...