Results 8,121-8,140 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Following the interaction of members of both associations at the pay talks, I will meet both associations tomorrow. If we do not discuss the matter tomorrow, I will ask for their thoughts and for feedback on the interaction during their first time at pay talks. On what is happening internally, the conciliation and arbitration process works, although it requires review. That is why I...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I respect both Deputies' views but I do not accept them. There is no issue with that. I disagree with some of their points. I see and hear at first hand from members of the Irish Naval Service who tell me of thousands of men, women and children losing their lives because they are being disembarked on the Libyan coastline in unsafe vessels which go out maybe a couple of miles and sink and...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Fixed period promotion in the Permanent Defence Force was a promotion which took place after a fixed period of time. It was part of the terms and conditions of specialist service officers such as engineers and doctors. The whole notion of fixed period promotions as an expectation or a right continuing for specialist personnel did not sit comfortably with, and was not in keeping with the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Section 3 of the public service stability agreement 2018-2020 provides that the Public Service Pay Commission be requested to complete a comprehensive examination of underlying difficulties in recruitment and retention in those sectors and employment streams identified in the report of the Public Sector Pay Commission. I would be the first to admit that there are a number of areas within the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 50 together. The EU Common Security and Defence Policy naval operation EUNAVFOR MED (Operation Sophia), against human smugglers and traffickers, is one element of a comprehensive approach to addressing the migration crisis in the South Central Mediterranean. Operation Sophia was launched in June 2015 as part of the EU’s broader action to provide...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Operation Sofia, like Operation Pontus, allows us to bring migrants to the coast of Italy. We have the authorisation and permission of the Italian authorities to bring any migrants picked up in Operation Sophia there. This is a UN mandated mission. The Naval Service has yet to be given full operation tasks involving the rescuing of people. People have been brought safely to port or...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Bodies (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I am fully satisfied all correct national and EU procedures were followed in the nomination of Vice Admiral Mellett, the current Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, for appointment as chair of the European Union Military Committee, the most senior military establishment within the European Union. It was established under Council Decision 2001/79/CFSP. When meeting in chiefs of defence...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Bodies (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The timing of the decision coincided with the opening of nominations for the position. The decision does not call into question our policy on neutrality. Ireland has been a member of the European Union Military Committee since its inception in 2001. It was supported by successive Governments comprising Fianna Fáil and Independents; Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats;...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Bodies (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: It was a Government decision. The Deputy mentioned Operation Sophia. It came within the triple-lock mechanism as it is a UN-mandated mission. It received Government approval and the approval of this House. I have never been afraid to bring decisions to the Chamber, knowing that I could walk out the door saying the Dáil and the Government had made the right decision. This is good for...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I am surprised that the Deputy read a House of Lords report. I did not think he would be into it.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I understand. I did not think reports from the House of Lords had reached Wellingtonbridge, County Wexford.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I do not accept any of the accusations that the Deputy has thrown across the floor at me. It is interesting to note that the Deputy left out the contracts of 1994 and 2006 in her questioning.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: There were issues raised at the PDFORRA conference, which I committed to address and delegates were very happy that I did so. They asked previous Ministers, including some from Fianna Fáil, to carry out a review of the CNA process. I have committed to doing that. I considered the best way forward over the past number of months. I was not going to announce that I was going to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence, published in 2015, sets out the Government’s defence policy for the next decade. Any discussion on Defence Forces capability, numbers of personnel and so on needs to be framed in the context of the White Paper on Defence which commits to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: There were pay increases for members of the Defence Forces in the Lansdowne Road agreement, which they signed up to. They now have an opportunity to sign up to the extended Lansdowne Road agreement. The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, announced yesterday that the Public Service Pay Commission will begin work shortly. It will examine a number...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy and other members of her group have often thrown out the line that significant numbers of members of the Defence Forces are in receipt of FIS. That is totally incorrect. I will send on information on the number of people within the Defence Forces in receipt of FIS. She will be quite surprised to learn that the numbers are not as large as she and her colleagues have spoken about...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I have to stay within the confines of public pay and the extended Lansdowne Road agreement. I would love to be able to take out the public pay cheque book and start giving people pay increases across the board. However, I do not have the power to do that. I have to work with the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform when he sets out public pay for all sectors within the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Investigations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Significantly, it potentially affects the reputations and good names of individuals. When I have the views of those who made the protected disclosures, I will consider any appropriate action. I will take further steps after I have heard back from the people who made the protected disclosures. As I did not want to be accused of hiding behind anything, anybody or any document, I decided to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Investigations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: In conclusion, it would have been very easy for me to decide to hold back the report to prevent people from asking questions on this matter. I did not want to do this. I wanted to be very open and transparent and to give people an opportunity to see exactly what the independent reviewer had said.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Investigations (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Okay.