Results 7,301-7,320 of 9,163 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (15 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 581. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if legislative changes to a local authority housing scheme (details supplied) are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21028/18]

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

Jack Chambers: 3. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the personnel strength of the Defence Forces was lower at the end of February 2018 than at the end of February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20688/18]

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

Jack Chambers: What are the reasons the personnel strength of the Defence Forces was lower at the end of February 2018 than at the end of February 2017? Will the Minister of State make a statement on the matter? As he knows, the Defence Forces face a full-blown retention crisis. Despite attempts to enhance recruitment we are haemorrhaging massive numbers. Why does the Minister of State believe that...

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

Jack Chambers: I am surprised the Minister of State mentioned there are normal retirement patterns and that they match that long-term trend. There was a massive recruitment campaign last year of 860 personnel, but there are fewer personnel this year than there were last year. Clearly this does not match any long-term trend. Look at the figures. A total of 30% of members of the organisation have left the...

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

Jack Chambers: At the committee meeting last week, the Minister of State said he has written to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regarding what he says is a retention issue. Writing to somebody with whom he sits at Cabinet is not an adequate political response to what is an issue, as the Minister of State has admitted himself. There needs to be an escalation with regard to the serious pay...

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

Jack Chambers: The consolidation was an attempt to get the full capacity out of those in the Defence Forces. However, it has cut many people to the bone. They have hardship and significant travel times, which undermine their ability to be at home with their families. The 2015 University of Limerick report highlighted these outcomes and feelings within the Defence Forces. Instead of cutting them to the...

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

Jack Chambers: 1. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the 2012 restructuring of the Defence Forces will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/18]

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

Jack Chambers: I echo the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's welcome to the delegation. My question is to ask the Minister of State at the Department of Defence if he will review the 2012 restructuring of the Defence Forces and if he will make a statement on the matter. As the Minister of State knows, we had the first southern brigade headquarters in Cork, the second eastern headquarters in Dublin and the fourth...

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

Jack Chambers: As the Minister of State knows, the 2012 restructuring continues to generate controversy. In all the meetings I have had with many people working in the Defence Forces and with the representative bodies, it has been a constant theme and there is a unanimous belief that it has been a mistake. Take for example, the people who might be in Finner Camp, who have to pick up their arms in Athlone,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 17. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to scrap or lower intelligence tests which are used to select recruits to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20387/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reorganisation (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 26. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the 2012 restructuring of the Defence Forces will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20385/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 27. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if an exit snapshot survey or interview has been carried out by the Defence Forces on members leaving the force; if so, the findings of the survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20386/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (10 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 43. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the personnel strength of the Defence Forces was lower at the end of February 2018 than at the end of February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20384/18]

Gambling Control Bill 2018: Referral to Select Committee [Private Members] (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice and Equality pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 141.

Gambling Control Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: And Deputy Anne Rabbitte as well.

Gambling Control Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: As my colleague mentioned, problem gambling has spiralled out of control. Thousands of lives have been ruined by a failure to regulate the gambling sector. I refer to families destroyed by lies, homes taken away because of massive debts and lives lost because of depression and suicide. We have 1930s-era laws for 2018 problems. When the current rules to control the gambling sector were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I thank both witnesses for coming before the committee today. To follow on from Deputy O'Callaghan's questions, how would the witnesses construct a scheme? A lot of the commission's statement and submission deals with the restrictions in terms of how the Government has set about transposing the directive and I agree with the commission's views in that regard. I ask the witnesses to set out...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: What restrictions, if any, would the commission want to see applied? Would it want asylum seekers to be given every opportunity in terms of healthcare, education, work and to see the removal all of the administrative barriers in order to facilitate people as much as possible? The commission is coming at this issue from the polar opposite position of the Department. How can the Department...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: It is impossible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Access to the Labour Market for International Protection Applicants: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: Does Ms Logan believe that when the statutory instrument is brought forward, it will be as restrictive as the current arrangement? What will be the legal context if there is no effective access, as referred to by the court?