Results 8,141-8,160 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

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

Paul Kehoe: I join Deputy Chambers in complimenting everyone in the Defence Forces, the Civil Defence, the Irish Red Cross and all the voluntary organisations. I would like to thank the officials in the Office of Emergency Planning and the various Departments for all their work in recent days. I thank PDFORRA for its invitation to attend and address its annual conference, which was held in Cavan just...

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

Paul Kehoe: I would encourage Deputy Chambers to mix with members of the Defence Forces to see how morale has changed over the last while.

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

Paul Kehoe: I am not surprised that the Deputy is carrying on like this about public sector pay.

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

Paul Kehoe: I am replying. I think I should be allowed the opportunity to reply.

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

Paul Kehoe: I am not surprised that Deputy Chambers is speaking about public sector pay. I would love to open the chequebook, but I am responsible. Those of us on this side of the House are taking a responsible approach to the country's economic future. When the Deputy's party and my party reached agreement on a programme for Government and a relationship for Government, the progress of the public pay...

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

Paul Kehoe: They are ludicrous and I can understand the frustrations of the members of the Defence Forces.

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

Paul Kehoe: They are resulting in the Defence Forces losing the services of young men and women. I want to review the whole contract system.

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

Paul Kehoe: The health and welfare of the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann are a priority for me which is why I ensured that protected disclosures alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substances were investigated by an independent third party. The reviewer’s report has indicated that, given the breadth of the remit of the terms of reference, he could only comment in general terms...

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

Paul Kehoe: This issue has been much discussed here in the last few months, and rightly so. It is an ongoing matter. As I told Deputy Chambers, I met two of the recipients who brought up a range of concerns to me. The respectful treatment of these whistleblowers is something that I have prioritised in the Department. The reviewer has given me a copy of the report which I have in turn passed on to the...

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

Paul Kehoe: I have every confidence in the independent reviewer. I have never questioned his authority and I do not want Deputy Ó Snodaigh to put words into my mouth in this regard. I have every confidence in the work carried out by the independent reviewer. He is a professional and carried out the review within the terms of reference set out for him. A number of the issues raised by Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I thank Deputy Chambers for her question. The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces are priorities for me which is why I ensured that protected disclosures alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substances were investigated by an independent third party. The reviewer’s report has indicated that he felt that given the breadth of the remit of the terms of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I believe I must take them separately because they are Priority Questions. That is my understanding, at least.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I am happy to group them if that is not a problem.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I must repeat that these issues were before the courts before the protected disclosures were made to my Department. When I was appointed as Minister of State in May 2016, I was briefed on the protected disclosures issue. I felt that the best way forward was to appoint a reviewer to look at those protected disclosures. The reviewer furnished his report to me, which I then forwarded to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Air Corps (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I assure the Deputy that I will not be hiding behind anything, anybody or any document. I will be very straight with the people who made the protected disclosures and I will give them the opportunity to meet me. Two of them have already taken up that offer. I met them and gave them ample opportunities to raise these. Parallel to the actions of the independent reviewer, the Health and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Training (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Defence Forces attended a live firing practice of the RBS 70 surface to air missile system in Karlskoga, Sweden in May 2017. The main purpose of the live firing shoot, which involved the firing of Defence Forces RBS 70 missiles, was to validate the training and capability of on island Ground Based Air Defence training. These RBS 70 missiles cannot be test fired on island due to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Protected Disclosures (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 47 and 65 together. The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces are a priority for me; that is why I ensured that protected disclosures alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substances were investigated by an independent third party. The reviewer’s report has indicated that he felt that given the breadth of the remit of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence 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 role. The Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve and the White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Ceremonies (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Defence Forces have provided ceremonial support alongside members of other military forces in a number of ceremonial public events both here and abroad to date in 2017. The level of participation is determined by my Department in consultation with the Military authorities and is dependent on the scale of the event in question and the availability of Military resources. On 30 March...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (18 Oct 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As part of a whole of Government approach, the Department of Defence is engaged in forward planning for the UK exit from the EU. While the full implications for the border will emerge during the course of the negotiations, it is this Government’s stated goal to try to ensure that the current on-island border arrangements are maintained to the greatest extent possible. From the...