Results 7,121-7,140 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I have outlined that this is European Union tendering and the Department of Defence has not set the guidelines. The Deputy knows about EU guidelines as well as I do. We must go through EU procurement guidelines when more than a specific amount of money is being spent.

Other Questions: State Claims Agency (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy will be aware that the State Claims Agency is currently managing seven claims taken against the Minister for Defence for personal injuries alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substance while working in the Air Corps in the period 1991 to 2006. The management of such claims lodged against the Minister for Defence is delegated to the State Claims Agency. As I outlined to the...

Other Questions: State Claims Agency (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is trying to link two very distinct matters. The allegations referred to by the Deputy are historic and this is further complicated as causation has not been established as of yet. I have been very proactive in this matter. When the protected disclosures were submitted to the Department of Defence - there were two in 2015 and one in 2016 - I was briefed on the matter in June...

Other Questions: State Claims Agency (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The health and well-being of any member of the Defence Forces is a priority of mine and of military management. I am glad the Deputy recognises the progress in the Air Corps at Baldonnel. It is one of the reasons I instructed the General Officer Commanding, Sean Clancy, to host a visit for Members of the Oireachtas committee so they could see for themselves the progress out there. I am...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that there is blood on my hands.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: My number one priority is that we have the best equipment for our personnel when they go overseas and that our equipment matches the best equipment that is out there. I hope Irish personnel are never injured or killed overseas because of a lack of equipment. If we sent members of the Irish Defence Forces overseas without the very best equipment available, I can assure the Deputy that he...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I already outlined in my reply, trade policy and market access are largely EU competencies and any restriction or ban on imports from any particular country would have to be decided at EU level. I am happy that the Department of Defence has abided by all guidelines through this process. The Government has consistently been opposed to proposals for trade, diplomatic, cultural, academic,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will be aware, discussions within the EU in the area of defence and security take place in the context of the Common Security and Defence Policy, for which decisions require the unanimous approval of all member states. These discussions take place at regular meetings of Heads of State and Government, at ministerial level meetings and through the Council preparatory bodies. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The upgrade of maritime surveillance projects aims to integrate land-based surveillance systems and maritime and air platforms in order to distribute real-time information to member states so as to provide timely and effective responses in international waters. The main objective of the programme is to enhance maritime surveillance awareness and the potential response effectiveness of the EU...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Ireland is not joining eight projects, it will have observer status in respect of them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: It was decided by military management. I am not obliged to come into the House to advise Deputies of the projects in which we are participating.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Following on from a motion agreed by this House, Ireland joined PESCO as a fully-fledged member. I have no issue with appearing before Oireachtas committees. If I were required to come into the House on a day-today basis to seek permission to enable the Defence Forces to do their daily duties, the Deputy might like that but no work would be done. Deputy Eamon Ryan was at the Cabinet table...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 8 and 36 together. The primary focus regarding the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces to fulfil the roles assigned to them by Government. The latter include undertaking overseas peace support operations and, in that context, the aim is to afford the greatest possible...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Permanent Structured Co-operation has no implications for Ireland’s policy of military neutrality. The establishment of PESCO represents a further development in EU co-operation in support of international peace and security under the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP. Under PESCO, member states will come together in different groups to develop and make available...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: PESCO does not compromise our neutral stance and our policies in this regard. I outlined Ireland's position on neutrality every step of the way in our decision to participate in the PESCO. Other member states such as Finland, Sweden and Austria have joined PESCO as well and they have a similar policy on neutrality to ourselves. This was clearly indicated in the Lisbon treaty that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Permanent Structured Co-operation (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Our neutral stance is not being watered down in any way. PESCO will enable the Defence Forces to develop its capabilities in support of peacekeeping through participation in joint projects. Every Member will recognise the excellent work of members of the Defence Forces when they participate in peacekeeping missions throughout the world. They have to undergo specific training to participate...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I outlined in my original reply, there are other facets to Operation Sophia in which members of the Irish Naval Service participate. As I stated at the committee meeting last week, I intend to visit the headquarters of Operation Sophia within the next month or two, when I will get a full update on our involvement and the involvement of other participants in Operation Sophia. Ireland is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 28 February 2018, was 9,057 whole-time equivalent personnel and on 28 February 2017, it was 9,070 whole-time equivalent personnel. The overall difference in strength between February 2017 and February 2018 is a reduction of 13 personnel. Variations in strength figures are not an unusual...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy tabled a parliamentary question earlier this week on retirements from 2002 to 2017. In 2002, 732 personnel departed the Defence Forces and in 2017, 707 did so. If one goes through the intervening years the numbers included 579, 543, 649 and, in 2013, 445. At the height of the recession fewer people left the Defence Forces. Going back over the years when we had the so-called...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (10 May 2018)

Paul Kehoe: It was the Deputy, in his original supplementary question, who raised patterns and trends. I was only replying to him on patterns and trends. He took what he wanted out of the figures. 11 o’clock We have an issue. I will not call it a full-blown crisis. The Deputy is in opposition and I understand that he has to raise it but I do not agree with him. I am not sure if he read...