Results 9,721-9,740 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: First, I congratulate Deputy Lisa Chambers on her election and on her appointment as Fianna Fáil spokesperson on defence. As the Deputy will be aware, during the economic crisis, recruitment was conducted within a constrained resource envelope, taking into account the need to continue to procure essential systems and equipment for the Defence Forces. Balancing recruitment and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I understand the Deputy's concerns. It is very important that we invest in equipment because we must ensure the Defence Forces personnel have the capability to carry out their role in peacekeeping operations, training and so forth. Equipment is important for that. I take the Deputy's point that there has been a high number of departures. However, in the last number of years, there has...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I have been advised by the military authorities that in line with current public service remuneration policy, there are no specific financial incentive personnel retention schemes in place for the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces offer a very rewarding and challenging career, which is why people join them. They provide people with opportunities they will not get in any other organisation....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Remuneration (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Policy in relation to pay in the Public Service is, in the first instance, a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The cost of ensuring that employees in myThe cost of ensuring that employees in my Department who were recruited post-2011 are paid the pre-2011 salary rate is governed by the manner in which the provisions of the National Recovery Plan and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Gormanston Camp is, and will continue to be, an important operational military installation, and there are no plans to change this. My Department has invested considerably in facilities and infrastructure at Gormanston Camp. Since 2010, just over €673,000 has been spent on a range of capital and non-capital developments and improvements whilst a further €50,000 is to be spent...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Allowances (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Policy in relation to the payment of allowances in the Public Service is, in the first instance, a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I can say however, that following the review of public service allowances and premium pay, a number of changes were made in respect of allowances paid to public servants. This review was completed in 2012. In that regard, the allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (21 Jun 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 5thFebruary 2003, the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: I have been appointed as a Minister of State attending Government and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Defence , with special responsibility for the Department of Defence. Following this appointment, the Government has made the Defence (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 under the Minister and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977 to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medical Services (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As I have made clear, the health and welfare of the Defence Forces are a priority for me and this informs my approach to the issue of Lariam. Malaria is a serious disease which killed approximately 438,000 people in 2015, with 90% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa as reported by the World Health Organization. It is a serious threat to any military force operating in the area....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As I have already advised the Deputy in my reply to her ealier question today, there are a number of initiatives in place that address recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. I wish to reaffirm to the Deputy that the Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising 7,519 Army, 887 Air Corps and 1,094...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battle Groups (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Participation in the EU Battlegroups demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to the development of EU capabilities in the area of crisis management and contributes to our reputation as professional and effective peacekeepers and our credibility within the Union. In January 2014, the Government approved Ireland’s participation in the German led EU Battlegroup 2016, which will be...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions Data (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As of 1 June 2016, Ireland is contributing 474 personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are: 1. the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 199 personnel, 2. the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with 136 personnel and 3. the Naval Service Humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The number of women serving in the Permanent Defence Force at 31st May 2016 was 546 , which represented 6% of the overall strength of the PDF at that date. The number of women serving in the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve on the same date was 285 (effective), which represents 13% of the effective strength at that date. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: As the Deputy may be aware, the White Paper on Defence published in 2015 reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the ongoing development of the Reserve Defence Forces. Among other policy initiatives to be undertaken in the coming years in relation to the Reserve, the White Paper provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Department of Defence, following consultation with the Air Corps and the Naval Service, recently made an oral submission to an Bord Pleanála regarding the proposed development of the waste to energy facility in Ringaskiddy.  The submission identified two areas of concern, the proximity of the incinerator stack to Haulbowline and the difficulties in the evacuation of the island...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The policy is to withdraw the provision of married quarters to serving personnel as they are no longer required for the modern soldier. Personnel who leave the Defence Forces or who vacate a married quarter property are required to return vacant possession of that property. Most observe this requirement. Failure to vacate the property means that those remaining are overholding as they have...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reorganisation (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: Following a comprehensive review of expenditure carried out in 2011, the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was established at 9,500 personnel. It was clear from the review that the three brigade structure was no longer viable, particularly when compared to international norms. Accordingly, a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces, encompassing the consolidation of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Training (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to develop a new Institute for Peace Support and Leadership Training at the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh. This commitment was also reflected in the White Paper on Defence, published in August 2015, which sets out the policy framework for the Defence Organisation for the next ten years and beyond. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (21 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: The Defence Organisation routinely publishes details of Purchase Orders for goods and services valued at more than €20,000. This information is published on the Department of Defence website – www.defence.ie. The Department has published details of Purchase Orders including those placed for weapons and equipment by the Defence Organisation for the years 2014 and 2015. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2016)

Paul Kehoe: 176. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the process a person (details supplied) has to go through to obtain an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16381/16]