Results 9,421-9,440 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Other Questions: Partnership for Peace (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: At the NATO Warsaw summit in July this year which I attended the establishment of a military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland was announced. This military presence, also known as the Russian deterrent force, is being established in the Baltic region by NATO. The establishment which will be led by the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada will comprise four...

Other Questions: Partnership for Peace (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As a matter of policy, Ireland does not participate in mutual defence arrangements and, as such, will not be participating in the Russian deterrent force. At the NATO Warsaw summit in July this year the establishment of an enhanced forward military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland was announced. NATO sees the Russian deterrent force in the Baltic region as a credible...

Other Questions: Partnership for Peace (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Ireland receives regular requests for participation in various missions and they are considered on a case by case basis. There are a number of considerations to be taken into account when Ireland is determining the missions in which it will partake. The assessment includes whether it is a peacekeeping operation and an appropriate response. I do not believe this mission is an appropriate...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is aware, the scheme of conciliation and arbitration for members of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, provides a formal mechanism for the PDF representative associations, RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the official side. The purpose of the scheme is to provide a means for the determination of claims and proposals from the associations relating to remuneration and conditions...

Other Questions: Defence Forces (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I can assure the Deputy that this report will not be left sitting on any shelf. I have met both representative organisations. I have also met Defence Forces staff, including the Chief of Staff, on this matter. I have asked the Chief of Staff to develop an action plan in response to the findings of the survey, with consideration to be given to how best we might gain a more detailed insight...

Other Questions: Defence Forces (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Absolutely. I have spoken to the Chief of Staff and he is aware that as leader of the organisation it is important he would interact with other defence organisations and armies not only within the European Union but further afield to determine best practice going forward. I would welcome that. There are many similar organisations to ours in Canada, Australia and so on that we can learn...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of aid to the civil power, ATCP, which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Since 5 February 2003, the Garda...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Government's recent review of foreign policy and the Defence Forces White Paper on Defence confirmed that Ireland will continue to maintain its traditional policy on military neutrality in terms of non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence arrangements. The issues of over-flight by foreign military aircraft and the use of Shannon Airport by...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy is aware, a number of cases of litigation are taking place at the moment and I will not comment on individual cases or who had or did not have face-to-face consultations. The military authorities have assured me that significant precautions are taken by Defence Forces medical officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of the Defence Forces to take any anti-malaria...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The choice of medication for overseas deployments for both officers and enlisted personnel is a medical decision taken by the medical officers. Deputy Ó Snodaigh spoke of the chief of staff giving me advice but the chief of staff also depends on advice from the chief medical officer, who has the qualifications to give it. Each individual is screened before they go to sub-Saharan Africa...

Other Questions: Defence Forces (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The third and most recent report of the implementation monitoring group was published in September 2014. Among its recommendations was that a climate survey be conducted within 12 months and subsequently at reasonable intervals. A similar survey was conducted in 2008. The aim of the survey, which was conducted by the University of Limerick, UL, was to identify trends to inform best...

Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: In December 2013 the European Council, in its conclusions on the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, highlighted that "Europe needs a more integrated, sustainable, innovative and competitive defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB) to develop and sustain defence capabilities. This can also enhance its strategic autonomy and its ability to act with partners". An effective...

Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: With the defence spend of EU member states on research and technology at an all-time low, the funding provided by way of the preparatory action will advance current capabilities in a way that would not be possible otherwise. The European Defence Agency was established to support member states and the Council in their efforts to improve European defence capabilities in crisis management and...

Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: There is as yet no definite amount agreed for the research programme. However, a budget in the region of €2 billion to €3 billion for the period from 2021 to 2027, inclusive, has been mentioned in a number of Commission fora. This, however, has not been agreed to by any member state. As with the Horizon 2020 programme, it is envisaged that the defence forces research...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Deputy is aware that there is ongoing litigation in respect of the use of Lariam in the Defence Forces, to which the Minister for Defence is the defendant. As I have previously outlined, the State Claims Agency is managing these claims on behalf of the Department. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot discuss allegations about the screening or prescribing of Lariam, where matters are...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Yes, the personnel serving in Mali now are taking Lariam, but for my short visit, I was prescribed Malarone which is the more suitable drug for a very short visit. I had to take the medication for three to four days before I travelled to Mali, during my stay in Mali and for a further seven to ten days after my trip, along with other prescribed medications I was advised of - injections and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and that the Defence Forces have no restrictions as regards the assignment of men or women to the full range of operational and administrative duties, including in respect of participation in UN peacekeeping operations. The advancement of the women peace and security agenda in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that currently there are 551 women serving in the Permanent Defence Force, amounting to 6.1% of serving personnel. There are currently 496 personnel serving overseas. There are 20 women overseas on UN peacekeeping duties and five females are deployed on humanitarian operations by the Naval Service in the Mediterranean on Operation Pontus. This amounts to 5.04%...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: One of the family-friendly initiatives, which has been taken up by many of female personnel, is the option to serve three months overseas instead of six months. It is a great initiative but the Defence Forces are currently working on a number of other initiatives to raise the awareness among Irish society that all roles and operational appointments are open to women. To this end, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Curragh Plains Representative Forum (9 Nov 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Illegal camping and dumping were very high on the agenda. The Deputy has raised the issues with me previously as has Deputy Heydon. I have asked that the forum would specifically look into these ongoing problems on the Curragh plains. The Deputy spoke about the horseracing sector and horses being ridden out on the Curragh Plains. I am not sure if that was discussed at the last meeting,...