Results 7,681-7,700 of 9,550 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (16 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: With respect, when I hear about consultation from the Department of Justice and Equality around gambling and other issues, I see it as a delaying tactic. The Department should put out for consultation for a few weeks, get feedback between now and Report Stage and give us the feedback quickly. We need to move the legislation forward. It is progressive and gives families an additional...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (16 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I accept that but I must say that I am cynical about the word "consultation". I do not think it will have ramifications. The Department should spend a few weeks talking to the various stakeholders. We are a small country. The Department should get the feedback and then get on with it rather than spend months on end waiting for the legislation to move forward. That is just a general...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (16 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: I argued for consultation but in a quick, efficient and effective manner. I argued for the Department simply to go and do it. My experience of other legislation is that those responsible talk about doing it and years go by. My point was not to try to remove consultation. If people want to do it, then they should do it and get on with it and give us the information and feedback. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (16 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 51. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, excluding all recruits, apprentices and cadets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21521/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Data (15 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 90. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service deployments that were carried out in support of the joint task force on drug interdiction in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20863/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Paper on Defence (15 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 92. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the White Paper projects that have been completed; and if project summary statements for closed projects are available. [21165/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (15 May 2018)

Jack Chambers: 96. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to examine additional recruitment measures to increase the numbers in the Defence Forces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21320/18]

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]