Results 7,181-7,200 of 9,163 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Other Questions: EU Meetings (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: 43. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the May 2018 meeting of EU defence Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27756/18]

Other Questions: EU Meetings (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: This question is to ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the May 2018 meeting of EU Ministers and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Other Questions: EU Meetings (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Minister. At the press conference, Federica Mogherini spoke about how the EU defence package this year entered real implementation and of 17 projects under Permanent Structured Cooperation, PESCO, that are now up and running. Will the Minister outline Ireland's position regarding those 17 projects? Ms Mogherini also said that a number of countries had advanced ideas for new...

Other Questions: EU Meetings (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: With regard to the discussion on crisis management attended by the UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping and the NATO Deputy Secretary General, I gather that involved a reflection on operational co-operation and neutral support between the EU, the UN and NATO, both at a strategic level and also on the ground where operations from each may be deployed in the same theatre of operations....

Other Questions: Defence Forces Training (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: 44. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the development of a new institute for peace support and leadership training at the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27757/18]

Other Questions: Defence Forces Training (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: I ask the Minister the status of the development of a new institute for peace support and leadership training at the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Training (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Minister. This is an issue we mentioned as a party in 2013 and my colleague, the current Ceann Comhaire, sought to have it progressed. I am concerned that there was a two year period during which this was a scoping exercise and now it is a feasibility study. Is that an indication that there is significant doubt within the Department of Defence towards progressing it? It is...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State mentioned in reply to Deputy Durkan some of the initiatives to increase female participation in respect of recruitment. We are failing abysmally against the international metric. The total of females in our Defence Forces is approximately 6.5%, which is way below international norms. The figure for the US is 16%; New Zealand, 17%; Canada, 15%; and Britain, 9%....

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: I accept the Department has implemented some initiatives. They have not worked, and I am glad the Minister of State has recognised that. One constructive suggestion I have concerns something the British army does. It has changed its recruitment portal and the way in which the recruitment process works. I know many people who have applied to the Defence Forces and who received an email...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: 51. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to increase the number of women in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27754/18]

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

Jack Chambers: 37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if changes are planned to the Defence Forces' overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28051/18]

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

Jack Chambers: The Minister of State recently pulled some troops back and there has been movement in some of the recent missions in Syria and elsewhere. Will he outline the current position of our peacekeeping missions abroad?

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

Jack Chambers: I also wish to mention the 60th anniversary which the Minister of State attended on Sunday. It is important that we recognise the 60 years of international peacekeeping work that Ireland has contributed. On Syria, does the Minister of State expect all troops to return to camp this year? Will the Minister of State specifically outline the improvements that have happened to authorise this...

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

Jack Chambers: I assume there will be further safety checks in Syria before the mission is authorised. Will the Minister of State confirm this? Will he outline who has had meetings with representatives from the Czech Republic? The Minister of State did not clarify why the Finnish and Estonian missions were pulled back. How advanced are the discussions regarding the Czech Republic partnering with Ireland...

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

Jack Chambers: 35. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the agreement reached with Defence Forces representative organisations relating to the application of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28050/18]

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

Jack Chambers: Will the Minister of State report on the agreement reached with the Defence Forces representative organisations on the application of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and make a statement on the matter? As he knows, there has been a protracted dispute and the State has sought to defend its position, in breach of the current legal framework. We need a full statement on why there was...

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

Jack Chambers: It is unfortunate the Defence Forces representative organisations and workers in the Defence Forces were stonewalled for so long. I seek an update on the heads of the proposed Bill and ask when it will progress through the House. The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, recently indicated that piecemeal amendments to Defence Forces regulations based on the outcome of...

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

Jack Chambers: The pace of legislation is very slow in this area. We have ongoing breaches of the working time directive and it was reported that 146,000 days of annual leave have been lost in the past five years among members of the Defence Forces. That is an enormous breach of this country's statutory process and the fact we are not seeking to rectify it very quickly does not give confidence to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Planning Issues (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: 57. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action that will be taken by the Defence Forces on foot of the recent decision regarding the construction of an incinerator at Ringaskiddy and its possible impact on operations at Haulbowline naval base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27755/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (26 Jun 2018)

Jack Chambers: 59. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if changes are planned to the Defence Forces current overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27758/18]