Results 6,981-7,000 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Several specific initiatives have been implemented to increase female participation in the Defence Forces. These include the introduction of best practices in recruitment, such as the adjustment of physical standards for female applicants; special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment; a balanced composition between men and women on recruitment and selection...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Where did the Deputy get the figure that 25% of the Defence Forces is in receipt of family income supplement?

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: A little over 1% of the Defence Forces are in receipt of family income supplement. I have addressed this matter until I am blue in the face. The only place where these accusations come from is from the left. Other Members have taken on board what I have stated on this before. I went to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection myself to check the figures. I ask the...

Other Questions: EU Budgets (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Any expenditure on defence is a matter for the Government, as the Deputy knows. The Deputy has now seen two budgets going through this House. He has an opportunity to vote on all the budget outcomes. It is up to each Member of this House to do so. It is a matter for the Government to bring forward a budget. If the Government wants to spend a certain amount, be it on agriculture,...

Other Questions: EU Budgets (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Decisions on spending are and will always be a matter for the Dáil. Dáil votes will determine how Ireland spends its money on defence, as I stated to the Deputy a while ago. Deputy Barry and many like him with similar views on defence come into the House and give out about what we spend on equipment and defence matters. If something happened to people overseas, whether they were...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 45, 51, 53 and 58 together. As of 30 May 2018, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 9,010 personnel – whole-time equivalents – of which 589 were females. 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is no doubt aware, section 16 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 sets out confidentiality requirements regarding the protection of the identify of a discloser. Therefore it is not possible for me to go into detail on any actions being taken on foot of any individual disclosure so as to ensure that such individuals' confidentiality is not breached. However,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: If the Deputy reads the legislation, I am precluded from discussing any protected disclosure from any individual. That is clearly set out in the Act. All protected disclosures which I receive or which are received into my Department are treated as having the utmost importance and go through a clear process within my Department and in respect of all other parties involved. As the Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I will of course look into the matter if anyone is fairly due moneys. I have no issue with that whatsoever. I will look into that for the Deputy. If the Deputy wants to write to me on that issue, and if he has the permission of the person in question to do so, I have no issue whatsoever in providing a full reply on that specific issue. The Deputy will have to write to me on it, however....

Other Questions: EU Budgets (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The next EU multi-annual Financial framework, MFF, will determine the budget spending for the EU for the period from 2021 to 2027.  On 2 May 2018, the European Commission presented its EU budget proposals for the multi-annual financial framework. Included in this, the Commission proposed that a budget of €13 billion over the 7 year period be dedicated to the European defence...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps Operations (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: We are currently investing in new planes and replacing the CASA aircraft. We also have a service level agreement with the HSE. As with other areas of the public service, there have been challenges in recruitment and retention of personnel, particularly in areas of expertise such as air traffic controllers and pilots. Retirements of highly experienced Air Corps personnel are exceeding the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As of 30 May 2018, Ireland is contributing 643 personnel to nine different missions across the globe. The main overseas missions on which Defence Forces personnel are deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, with 376 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, in Syria with 137 personnel. On UNDOF, approximately 130 Defence Forces...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Following the significant events in August 2014 in the area of separation, troops on the UNDOF mission temporarily relocated to Camp Ziouani from a number of positions. Pending the full return of UNDOF to the area of separation, the mission has continued to maintain a credible presence in the Golan Heights in line with its mandate. The Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, Major General...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The initial phase of the incremental return to the mission to Camp Faouar was completed in September 2016 and further deployment took place during 2017 so we have a number of troops there. This involved the deployment of a Nepalese mechanised infantry company and elements of the force headquarters staff, including eight Irish Defence Forces officers. As I said, it is anticipated that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I stated in reply to Deputy Chambers, I want to sort this out as soon as possible. I hope the Deputy will accept that the nature of the duties of military life in general bring demands that are typical of other security and emergency services like An Garda Síochána. I said as much in my original reply. The directive allows for derogations and compensatory rest. As I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The decision to change the issues around the legislation was not on foot of the recent legal case. Action was well under way with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. This stems from a Government decision in 2016, if my memory serves me correctly. The Government has accepted that the blanket exclusion is not in keeping with the 2003 EU directive. Bringing forward...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy will understand that I am prevented from discussing issues if litigation is ongoing. My hands are tied and he has to accept that. His party was in government for years and he will understand that as well as every other Member.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps Operations (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks on an as-available basis, including the provision of air ambulance services to the HSE. The HSE aeromedical desk in the national emergency operations centre is responsible for the co-ordination of all health-related air transport...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps Operations (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The HSE undertook a formal tendering process for the provision of air ambulance services to transfer priority 1 paediatric transplant patients to the UK between 7 p.m. and 7.30 a.m. I am advised that three private companies bid for the contract. Following completion of the competitive process, the contract was awarded to Air Alliance Express and will be in place for a two-year period. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jun 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 39 together.