Results 7,361-7,380 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Properties (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: He fully understands that I will not discuss issues relating to the security of the State here in the Chamber. We have been advised that the Defence Forces need these two strategic barracks for defence reasons.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Properties (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I refer to Cathal Brugha Barracks and McKee Barracks.

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 47 and 58 together. EU battle groups are designed to give the EU a rapid response capability which can be deployed in support of crisis management or humanitarian operations under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy and in support of UN-mandated missions. Battle groups are designed to have the capacity to deploy within five to ten days of a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I know the Deputy is reading from an email and I do not accept everything in the email, but let me-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Yes, but the Deputy is-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: What I am saying is-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Some of the issues the Deputy has raised in what he has just read out form part of what is called "details supplied" in the question he asked. That is okay; I accept that. However, he refers to the high number of members of the Defence Forces on the working family payment. Less than 1% of the total staff of the organisation is on family income supplement - between 100 and 104, according to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: -----to that as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I have been doing that and will continue to do so, but we must abide by the public service pay stability agreement as well, and I think the Deputy understands the reasons we must do so. He stated no one should be in receipt of family income supplement. There are members of the Defence Forces who have particular roles or ranks and have no children, or perhaps one or two kids, and then there...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Properties (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: My Department’s focus is the development and improvement of the physical environment and living conditions in existing military facilities to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capability to deliver on all roles assigned by Government. This is achieved through the Defence Forces built infrastructure programme. The programme is designed to modernise and enhance the training,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I have said, I welcome the findings of the EUROMIL case and made sure they would be part of the conciliation and arbitration scheme review. In the first instance, I will wait until the independent chairperson of the conciliation and arbitration scheme publishes his report. I expect and hope that all the issues in the EUROMIL case will be looked at in terms of the entire scheme. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is well aware that on many occasions PDFORRA asked to become an affiliated member, or to take up associate membership, of ICTU. These requests create significant challenges from a governmental and societal perspective. The Deputy understands that. I am willing to ensure that all these issues are taken into account under the conciliation and arbitration scheme review. I will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I am not sure if the Deputy read the press release and statement I issued on the conciliation and arbitration scheme. I said from the beginning of the scheme that I expected the report to be published within six months. I am not hiding behind the conciliation and arbitration scheme review. Had I not included the EUROMIL case in the terms of reference, I presume the Deputy would have jumped...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I said in my original reply, the complaint predates a number of significant Government initiatives over the past 12 months. PDFORRA and RACO were very much part of the public service pay agreement and the negotiations. The EUROMIL case was ongoing while negotiations took place. There have been a number of changes since my appointment. I want representative associations to be at the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I am advised that 1,902 personnel left the Permanent Defence Force in the three-year period from 2015 to 2017, inclusive. This includes 459 personnel who did not complete initial training to qualify as three star privates or officers. Given the unique and demanding nature of military life, there is understandably a relatively high level of turnover among Defence Forces personnel. This is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I have stated, it would be totally inappropriate for me to discuss the details of any employee, be they a member of the Defence Forces or a civilian staff member of the Department of Defence. The case is widely known and I will not get into the details of the employee. As the Deputy comes from a legal professional background, she knows well and understands the reasons I cannot, either...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy took me up wrong. I did not say that because she was a legal profession she should not be asking questions. I have no issue whatsoever with her asking me such questions. It is absolutely her right, as a Member of the House and spokesperson on the area for her political party, to ask me such questions and I have no issue whatsoever in that regard.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (21 Mar 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy can ask me whatever question she likes, but she should be well aware of the reasons I cannot comment on an individual employee and his or her personal details. She should understand the reasons-----