Results 1,601-1,620 of 3,971 for speaker:Sorca Clarke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I agree with Deputy Connolly when she speaks of trust. For many years these women and others who have engaged in this process had their abuse belittled. They had their rapes, sexual assaults and all of those negative experiences belittled. In fact some of them were actually gaslighted in their own reporting of this. Nobody in this House disagrees with the statement that this is wrong....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 36. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a detailed update on the current status of the report from the Independent Review Group into allegations of abuse in the Defence Forces. [13838/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: These questions are grouped.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Seven weeks ago, the Tánaiste stood in this Chamber and confirmed to me he was to receive the report that afternoon. Has the Tánaiste brought the report to the Attorney General? Has the Attorney General brought it back to him? Has the Tánaiste brought the report to his Cabinet colleagues? Will he engage with the stakeholders? Has he reached out to the stakeholders who were...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 1. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence given that the ceremonial handover of two inshore patrol vessels from New Zealand has taken place, the estimated additional crew, by rank, required to put these vessels to sea; and the duration and location of any familiarisation and training for crew before they can enter service. [13837/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Following the ceremonial handover of two inshore patrol vessels from New Zealand, will the Minister update the House on the estimated additional crew, by rank, required to put these vessels to sea and the duration and location of any familiarisation and training for crew before they can enter service?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: The Minister will be most aware that this week the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence met the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, and some of the general staff. The Chief of Staff confirmed that the current enlisted membership is 7,917, again evidencing the haemorrhaging of staff that we see from the Defence Forces. That equates to 83% of the establishment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I note the Minister did not answer the question. Will enlisted members and civilians be on the same conditions and rates of pay? The Defence Forces had a recorded turnover rate of 10.72% in 2022, the latest date for which figures are available. We have seen amendments to the sea service commitment but, at the same time, people have lost out on that payment because ships were essentially...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 286. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way a person (details supplied) can adequately complete a disability allowance application. [14445/23]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (22 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 287. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development what her Department has done in relation to the provision of multi annual funding for meals on wheels service providers to allow for planned growth in line with increasing demand; and the progress that has been made to date in relation to standardisation of funding across the sector. [14318/23]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (22 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 288. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of meals on wheels services that were excluded from any measures introduced by this Government to meet the exceptional growth in the cost of electricity overheads. [14319/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I thank our guests for taking the time to come here. I wish to place on the record our thanks, as a committee, to the staff of the Defence Forces who have been so great at hosting us on our excursions over the last number of years. They have been incredibly informative and educational for us as a committee. I am sure that a huge amount of preparation goes into each visit by a committee. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: The Chief of Staff will not find any disagreement with the future potential of the Reserve Defence Force. On the targets in terms of their geographical spread and their numbers, what in the mind of the Chief of Staff would be sufficient to meet the needs of Reserves? The previous Chief of Staff highlighted climate change as an area of real concern and future work for the Defence Forces....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I am sorry I misspoke. I apologise for any confusion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: The first supplementary question I will ask relates to the Chief of Staff's opening statement, where he referenced emergency accommodation in a number of military installations to support lead agencies around those seeking international protection. One barracks, Columb Barracks, Mullingar, will be used to house those coming to our shores seeking refuge. Was that decision made by the general...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: My question was whether the decision to use Collins Barracks was made by the Defence Forces or the Department of Defence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I appreciate Mr. Clancy's honesty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Does the fact that the high-level action plan only accepted 37% of the recommendations that came from the report of the commission influence the ability of the Defence Forces to be easier able to meet those easy wins? If that figure had been higher, would it have placed additional barriers in front of those easier wins being achieved? Would it have made Lieutenant General Clancy's job...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: That only refers to those 38 actions or 37%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Work and Priorities of the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chief of Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Sorca Clarke: The figures are very close but it is 37% or 38 actions.