Results 8,381-8,400 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Health and Safety Inspections (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I have referred the Deputy to ongoing litigation involving a number of former employees of the Air Corps and the Irish Defence Forces. When I became aware of the reports the Deputy mentioned, I made my own inquiries. I have written to the Chief of Staff and asked him about these reports. When I got further correspondence from the personnel section, I handed over a copy the correspondence...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Health and Safety Inspections (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I gave freely of my time to meet the personnel and I listened to their cases. It is appropriate that I treat the information they gave me in full confidence. I treated both individuals with the height of respect. The Deputy is aware of the ongoing litigation against me as Minister of State at the Department of Defence. It would be inappropriate for me to discuss those cases.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: International Terrorism (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on defence, published in the autumn of 2015, considered the security environment, including the threat from international terrorism. The security environment is kept under constant review. The White Paper notes that the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for protecting the internal security of the State. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I thank the Deputy for the question and extend my apologies for being late. The report of the independent third party I appointed to carry out a review into alleged failings of the Air Corps in the area of health and safety with regard to the use of toxic chemicals, was received by my Department on Friday, 16 June 2017 and submitted to me on Monday, 19 June 2017. As the Deputy will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Regarding the people who made the protected disclosures, I have met two of the individuals. One was unavailable to meet at the time. The conversations which I had with both persons will remain private and confidential. That is only fair. I have asked the Chief of Staff to investigate those reports which the Deputy spoke about and on which I have received correspondence. Regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The role of Legal Officers employed by the Defence Forces is to advise the Chief of Staff on legal matters pertaining to the Defence Forces. Separately, legal advice for the Minister is provided by the Office of the Attorney General. I am informed that there are currently a total of seven (7) Legal Officers employed in the Legal Service Branch of the Defence Forces. It is difficult to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Operations (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: In April 2017, the Government approved the despatch of a Naval vessel to the Mediterranean to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks as part of a bilateral arrangement with the Italian authorities. Similar arrangements were put in place in 2015 and 2016. The role of the Irish Naval vessels is to provide a search and rescue capability and to undertake humanitarian search and rescue...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As I stated in my reply to the Private Members' Motion which was before the Dáil on 28 June, fundamentally the use of anti-malarial drugs 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 the mission and the individual member of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 64 together. The Government is committed to maintaining a strength level of 9,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force. This comprises 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service personnel,as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Courts-Martial (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Defence Act 1954, as amended, provides that members of the Defence Forces are liable to military law. The military law system reflects that of the criminal law system of the State in that it has its own prosecutor, military judge, courts martial system and administrator. These appointees are independent in the performance of their functions and I have no role to play in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 63 together. The Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and Defence Force Regulations (DFR) provide for the establishment of representative associations for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The associations that have since been established are RACO (for commissioned officers) and PDFORRA (for enlisted personnel). A Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 50 and 59 together. Rates of remuneration and conditions of employment in each part of the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to levels of pay available in related public sector employments. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2015 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (11 Jul 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Medals (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As part of the Programme for Government, it was decided that a 1916 Centenary Commemorative medal be awarded to all Defence Forces personnel, both Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy will be aware that this matter was the subject of discussion at a recent Private Member’s Motion in the Dáil on 28 th June last. As I indicated to the House, Malaria is a serious disease and is a threat to any military force operating in areas where the disease is prevalent. There are three anti-malarial drugs in use by the Irish Defence Forces, namely Lariam...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Pensions (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The occupational pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including entrants to the Permanent Defence Force, are governed by the Public ServicePensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. All first-time new entrants to pensionable public service employment on or after that date are members of the Single Scheme. Under the 2012 Act, overall...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As I have previously informed the Deputy following the closure of Columb Barracks in 2012, my Department has explored a number of avenues to try and secure the long term future of the former barracks for the benefit of the local community. Government Departments and other Public Bodies, including Westmeath County Council, have been invited to declare any interest in acquiring the property....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As I stated in my reply to the Private Member s’ Motion which was before the Dáil on 28 June, fundamentally the use of anti-malarial drugs 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 the mission and the individual member...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Paper on Defence (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence committed the Government to putting in place a new employment support scheme with the direct involvement of the Defence Forces. A successful pilot programme was held in Gormanston Camp from 20thJune 2016 to 26thAugust 2016 with 25 participants. Following an evaluation of the pilot programme and Ministerial approval, it is intended to run 2 iterations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Brexit Issues (11 Jul 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The outcome of the vote of 23 June 2016 in the UK will have implications across all aspects of the business of the European Union. While the vote does not give rise to fundamental strategic issues for Defence Forces operations or for Ireland’s continuing engagement within the EU in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), it is expected that Brexit will have an impact on future...