Results 7,701-7,720 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Curragh Plains Representative Forum (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Curragh Forum was established to provide an opportunity for key stakeholders to consider and progress a wide range of issues regarding the use and management of the Curragh Plains. The most recent meeting of the Forum took place on Friday 12 January 2018. It was attended by representatives of the Department of Defence, the Defence...

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

Paul Kehoe: The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a priority for me. In September 2016, I appointed an independent third party to review allegations made in a number of protected disclosures relating to health and safety issues in the Air Corps which were received in late 2015 and early 2016. The report of the independent third party was received by the Department in...

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

Paul Kehoe: The Government believes that the Defence Forces should reflect the modern demographics of Irish society.  To that end, the Defence Forces operate in an environment without discrimination in areas covered by the Equality Acts as they apply to the Defence Forces. In addition the Defence Forces comply with the legal provisions of the Gender Recognition Act 2015. They also ensure that...

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

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 50 together. Application for General Service Recruitment to the Defence Forces in conducted on-line and all correspondence with applicants is conducted via e-mail. Candidates must successfully complete fitness testing, online psychometric testing and interview in order to progress through the competition. Following these stages of the recruitment...

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

Paul Kehoe: The circumstances surrounding an application for Family Income Supplement or Housing Assistance Payment, is a private matter between the applicant and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection or Local Authority, as appropriate. Various factors can give rise to such claims, with household income and the number of dependents being key variables. It should be noted...

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

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 63 together. The primary function of training and education in both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force is to develop and maintain capabilities necessary to enable personnel to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The scheduling of training in the Defence Forces, including the Reserve, is underpinned by an analysis of...

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, 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...

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...

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

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 57 and 60 to 62, inclusive, together. My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. Ireland’s participation in...

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

Paul Kehoe: The table shows the number of personnel who were discharged over the past five years and the number of new personnel inducted for the same period. 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Discharges 445 (of which 85 Recruits) 469 (of which 105 Recruits) 556 (of which 62 Recruits) 655 (of which 128 Recruits) 700 (of which 175 Recruits) Inductions 445 508 405 690 751 Discharges includes personnel who left...

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

Paul Kehoe: My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. In relation to equipment, priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered in the context of...

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

Paul Kehoe: As of 1 January 2018, Ireland is contributing 589 Permanent Defence Force personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 379 personnel, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 136 personnel. Ireland has, in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Gender Balance (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, broken down as follows: - Army: 496 Female Personnel - Air Corps: 34 Female Personnel - Naval Service: 70 Female Personnel The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (24 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: 135. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are plans to extend to the warmth and wellbeing scheme to other counties, including County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3557/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (23 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. Under the Defence Acts, the deployment of the Defence Forces overseas on peacekeeping missions requires the approval of the Government and Dáil Éireann and the specific mission must be authorised by the United Nations Security Council.  This is what is termed the “triple-lock”.  The United Nations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (23 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The primary focus for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces to fulfil the roles as assigned by Government. This includes undertaking overseas Peace Support Operations, and in this regard to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops whilst on all missions. The principle of competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Pensions (23 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The Single Public Service Pension Scheme ("Single Scheme") generally applies to all new-entrant public servants with effect from 1 January 2013.  The rules of the Scheme are set out in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (‘2012 Act’). With regard to Statements of Benefits, the 2012 Act provides that Statements are to be issued; ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (23 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The capabilities developed through PESCO will be owned by the Member States who participated in the project.  These capabilities can be made available for CSDP Operations, including peacekeeping, crisis management and disaster relief.  They will not be owned by the EU.  It is a matter for each participating member State to determine for itself what capabilities it...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Operations (23 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: The deployment of Irish Naval vessels to the Mediterranean to engage in humanitarian search and rescue tasks as part of Operation Pontus from 2015 to 2017, was an important element in Ireland's response to the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. Overall, 17,509 migrants were rescued under Operation Pontus and details are out in the table below. Year Deployed Naval vessel Persons ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts Data (23 Jan 2018)

Paul Kehoe: I can confirm that neither the Department of Defence nor the Defence Forces have contracts with the company referred to by the Deputy.