Results 8,821-8,840 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I cannot nor will I get involved in any direct transfer but I will go back to the flag officer commanding and ask him to consider this case if the Deputies think there are compassionate grounds for the request.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As I indicated in my earlier reply I remain satisfied with the present arrangements under the combined mechanism of the conciliation and arbitration scheme and the parallel process in place for the Defence Forces. I have no immediate plans to make any changes. That said, I have acknowledged to the representative associations on foot of representations made to me that I will keep the matter...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I have no problem hearing the issues of any representative organisation. I have met the management of both PDFORRA and RACO to hear their concerns and views and any issues they have within the Defence Forces. I put my hands up and said we will not be able to sort out every issue affecting the representative organisations but we can go some way in trying to address the issues they might...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: Under the terms of the Defence (Amendment) Act 1990, the Defence Forces representative associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated to any trade unions or any other body. Accordingly, the representative associations cannot be affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, at present. The basis for this prohibition is that it would be inappropriate to apply...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: A process is in place within the Department of Defence in this regard. I have met both representative organisations on numerous occasions and have received representations from PDFORRA seeking to have access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court made available to it. I understand the reasons it would want such services available to it. The Deputy mentioned An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Corps Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: First, I wish to state that this facility is only based on a service level agreement. As I stated in my reply, the Air Corps will be able to provide such an as-available service both to the Department of Health or the HSE for medical transfers and to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. That facility is based on a service level agreement and that is stated clearly in that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Corps Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy has asked a number of technical questions and I will respond to him in writing with specific answers to some of those questions. I assure him that I am in the process of addressing issues, including the shortage of air traffic controllers and, as I stated, some personnel have almost completed their training. Another group of personnel started their air traffic control training on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: In a non-binding ruling, the European Committee on Social Rights, ECSR, found in 2014 that current arrangements for industrial relations in An Garda Síochána are not in compliance with aspects of the European Social Charter. This was on the grounds of a prohibition on An Garda Síochána joining national employee organisations and on representative associations levels of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: No. I do not accept the Deputy's assertions. We have a mechanism of the conciliation and arbitration process within the Department and the Defence Forces that is open to both the representative organisations, PDFORRA and RACO, that represent members of the Army, Naval Service and the Air Corps. If they are unhappy with that, they can go to the ombudsman for adjudication. A process is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I have been assured by the Chief of Staff that the Defence Forces have all the capabilities to comply with and carry out all roles the Government's wishes of them. During the worst recession to hit this country, the Defence Forces and the Government decided there would be continuous recruitment. It was the only State body to have continuous recruitment from 2011 to 2013, inclusive, when...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I do not accept the Deputy's assertions. In light of the results of the climate survey that were published at the end of 2016, I have asked the military authorities to come up with plans for the specific area of retention. The Deputy referred to the Air Corps. We have eights cadets in training who were inducted in 2016. There were also classes in 2010 to 2015, inclusive. There is rolling...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I would be the first to accept that. However, this is also about training capacity. There is no use bringing in young cadets if we cannot give them the specific training they need. A significant amount of money is invested in these young people. I hope we will have a bigger cadet class in the Air Corps in 2017.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I understand the frustrations of the people involved. It is a priority for me to get the Air Corps back to fully operational capacity. That is also my target in respect of cadet and air traffic control training.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I want to get this clear, a Cheann Comhairle. There is a rolling of cadets every year. Once the class starts, another one is finishing at the end. They will be ready to be pilots and co-pilots.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: There is this view that we do not have people finishing off.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Corps Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I want to express my deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the crew involved in the loss of Rescue 116, which has been a shock to us all. I would also like to recognise the efforts of everyone involved in the recovery operation. On the night of the tragic incident, the Coast Guard requested the assistance of the Air Corps to provide top cover. It was not possible to undertake...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy agenda for the next ten years. It also considers the defence capabilities required so the Defence Forces can successfully deliver on the roles assigned by the Government. In this context, the White Paper on Defence also highlights a number of medium and long-term strategies in the area of manpower planning. The White Paper addresses the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Defence Action Plan (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: The College of Commissioners adopted the European Defence Action Plan on 30 November last. This Commission proposal has yet to go through the wide ranging and extensive EU procedures before any part of it becomes a reality. The aim of the Plan is to explore how EU policies and instruments can ensure that the EU’s industrial and skills base will be able to deliver required defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions Data (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: As of 01 March 2017, Ireland is contributing 585 Defence Forces personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 378 personnel and the United Nations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Strength (29 Mar 2017)

Paul Kehoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 14, 30, 32 and 42 together. As I outlined earlier, the Air Corps is not providing fixed wing aircraft for routine operations, on an ongoing basis, outside normal hours. However, in exceptional circumstances outside of normal hours, the Air Corps can recall personnel, as happened when Rescue 116 went missing. The reduction in experienced personnel in the...