Results 7,681-7,700 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Common Security and Defence Policy (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Sharing strategic interests and facing similar security challenges, NATO and the European Union cooperate on issues of common interest, particularly in the areas of crisis management and capability development.  A key focus of this cooperation is to avoid duplication of effort in the development of military capabilities and in structures, systems and interoperability standards....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. To achieve this, there is significant on-going recruitment. In 2017 some 751 new personnel were inducted into the Permanent Defence Force, comprising of General Service Recruits, Cadets and specialists for the Army, Air Corps...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Pensions (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I take it the Deputy is referring to the absence of the concept of “supplementary pensions” from the provisions of the single public service pension scheme. As I indicated in my response to recent Questions, the occupational pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the Permanent Defence Force, are governed by the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Industrial Relations (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As I said in the course of a reply to a question earlier, I have appointed Mr. Gerard Barry as independent chairperson for the review of the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. I am satisfied that Gerard Barry is not only independent but also has vast experience in the area of industrial relations and public service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 35 together. As I have indicated to this House in the past, fundamentally the choice of malaria chemoprophylaxis for use in the Defence Forces is a medical matter that should be decided by qualified medical professionals. In the Defence Forces these are decisions for highly qualified Medical Officers, having regard to the specific circumstances of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Gender Equality (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As of the 31stof December, 2017 the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 9,173 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) personnel.  Of this some 6.6%, or 600 personnel, were female.  The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 26 together. As part of a whole of Government approach, my Department is engaged in forward planning with the other Departments involved in addressing all issues relevant to the UK decision to leave the EU. The progress made towards the end of last year, as part of the first phase of the Brexit negotiations, offers encouragement in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: PESCO is a mechanism provided for in the Treaty of the European Union to enable participating member States to come together and, on a project by project basis, jointly develop military crisis management capabilities for use in support of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations and missions in support of international peace and security. Now that we are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was established on 31 May 1974 by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 350 (1974), following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights in May 1974. UNDOF was established to: - Maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Syria - Supervise the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces; and -...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Defence Forces Climate Survey was commissioned on foot of a recommendation contained in the third and most recent Report of the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG) which was established to oversee the implementation of recommendations relating to harassment, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment within the Defence Forces. Follow up work to the initial findings in the Survey...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 33 and 40 together. Rates of pay and conditions of employment in the Irish public sector have traditionally been set, inter alia, by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector. Like other areas within the Public Service, the pay of the Permanent Defence Force was reduced during the financial crisis. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. There has always been a relatively large turnover of personnel in the Defence Forces and there is significant ongoing recruitment at both enlisted and officer level. During 2017, 751 new personnel were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Conciliation and Arbitration (C and A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for both RACO (who represent commissioned officers) and PDFORRA (who represent enlisted personnel) to engage with the Official side on matters, which come within the scope of the Scheme. Having regard to commitments made under national public sector pay agreements,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: International Terrorism (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence, published in the Autumn of 2015, considered the security environment, including the threat from international terrorism. It notes that the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for protecting the internal security of the State. The Defence Forces provide, on request, supports in aid to the civil power (ATCP)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will be aware, following an inspection in 2016, the Air Corps has continued to work with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to improve its health and safety regime. The military authorities have informed me that the HSA has formally noted the considerable progress made to date by the Defence Forces towards implementation of a safety management system for the control of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve Defence Force.  The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and it confirms that the primary role of the Reserve is to augment the Permanent Defence Force in times of crisis. In non-crisis situations, the main focus will be on training to prepare for this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Expenditure (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Following the mid-term review of the capital plan, ‘Building on Recovery : Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016 – 2021’, Budget 2018 set out the capital envelope for Vote 36 Defence, for the period 2018 – 2021. This provides increased funding for the essential renewal and replacement of equipment and infrastructure. This is critical in ensuring that the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Advertising Regulation (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I refer to my answer to Question Number 230 of 15th November 2017. As I indicated in that response, in today's media-rich and connected world, Irish citizens are regularly exposed to content through a variety of mediums and social media channels would be no exception. Such content can include recruitment campaigns for foreign military organisations. However, as Minister with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: There are four permanently occupied military installations in Dublin. These are located at Cathal Brugha Barracks (Rathmines), McKee Barracks (Blackhorse Avenue), St. Bricin's Hospital (Infirmary Road) and Casement Aerodrome (Baldonnel). For operational and security reasons, details of troop numbers at each location cannot be disclosed. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: Given the unique and demanding nature of military life, there is understandably a relatively high level of turnover among Defence Forces personnel. However, this is not new and the Defence Forces have always had a level of turnover that far exceeds other areas of the public service. I remain committed to ensuring ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces and that, where possible, the...