Results 7,061-7,080 of 9,550 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: They also have expertise.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 3. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a review of the 1994 contracts for members of the Defence Forces is to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2191/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: A very worrying scenario may occur in the next 12 months unless we update the policy position relating to this matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: At PDFORRA conference's in 2017, the Minister of State undertook to review the terms of the 1994 contracts. He needs to clarify what he has done in the interim. There is a strong belief that more subjective criteria are needed for the retention of personnel. Members should be retained on capacity not age. I agree that in terms of operational capabilities, the various strata must be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State's language is interesting. I welcome the fact that he has said he will facilitate the direct engagement of the Chief of Staff and military management and I hope he will do so. In autumn of last year, he said that a joint submission had been made. Now he is referring to a joint submission in December. In his initial remarks he also referred to the Department of Public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 1. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Defence Forces management will be engaging directly with the Public Service Pay Commission in relation to recruitment and retention issues; if it is planned to filter engagement via his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2190/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: Will Defence Forces management, in particular the Chief of Staff, be allowed to engage directly with the Public Service Pay Commission, PSPC, on recruitment and retention issues or is it intended to filter engagement through the Department of Defence? As the Minister of State knows, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett has said he wants to engage directly. I would welcome clarity on whether the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: I will outline the timeline. Late last year, the Minister of State told me that both parties had signed off on a jointly agreed detailed submission to the PSPC. Today, he has told me that, if there is engagement in writing, military management may be allowed to engage with the PSPC. That is welcome. Since the Minister of State's remark that a joint submission had been made, the Chief of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 19. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces will achieve their establishment strength of 9,500 during 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1859/19]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 28. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to claims that shortages of officers in the Defence Forces have resulted in bomb disposal experts and marine engineers having to work 65 and 70 hours a week, respectively, without overtime; the measures being taken to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1862/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 141. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the planned relocation of the Rotunda Hospital to Connolly Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2090/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (17 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: 144. To ask the Minister for Health the overall cost annually to the HSE for treating illnesses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2105/19]

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (16 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: I am contributing to this debate on behalf of my colleague, Deputy O'Callaghan. Fianna Fáil supports the Bill. I respect what the Minister of State is trying to do, namely, create a more stringent sentencing regime for repeat offenders. There is a concern, as the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Affairs, Deputy Doherty, indicated, regarding the leniency of sentences that...

Ratification of EU and NATO Status of Forces Agreements: Referral to Select Committee (16 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: Fianna Fáil will be supporting the proposals to ratify the SOFA that will facilitate the participation of Ireland in the EU battle groups. The Minister of State is correct that this is about providing the immunities, privileges and process for the joint co-operation that is happening anyway. When he is replying, perhaps he might explain the problems that he and the Department have had...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: I thank the guests. I apologise as I have not heard everything that has been said. I was attending a meeting of the Committee on Justice and Equality, and witnesses might know it is busy in here on Wednesdays. I have read the opening statements. My questions relate to some of the difficulties around the weather warnings, and I know this has been discussed. There is confusion around the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: Where there is no weather alert, is RTÉ considering ways to communicate better, from a public broadcasting perspective? I refer to what Ms Cusack mentioned about the miscommunication that can occur. Perhaps we should centralise people's information towards Met Éireann. It would be a worthwhile exercise because I honestly believe there is huge confusion. As I have said, an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: My comment was not aimed at RTÉ. I just made a general point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of European Convention on Human Rights (compensation for delays in court proceedings) Bill 2019: Discussion (16 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: I thank the delegates for coming before the committee. Many issues have been covered, but I would like to ask a couple of questions. The delegates called for more resources to be provided. We hear all of the time that more resources would help to resolve many difficulties in public administration and bureaucracy. Aside from that, can the delegates recommend ways by which the courts...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of European Convention on Human Rights (compensation for delays in court proceedings) Bill 2019: Discussion (16 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: Can Mr. O'Higgins point to anything in the past number of years that has improved in terms of reform within the system?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of European Convention on Human Rights (compensation for delays in court proceedings) Bill 2019: Discussion (16 Jan 2019)

Jack Chambers: Mr. O'Higgins referred in his submission to additional resources and allocations rather than having the assessor model. He also mentioned the cost to the State and establishing a structure would obviously involve a cost to the State. Would the risk and cost to the individual of going to the High Court not be greater than they would be under a new model that could potentially vindicate their...