Results 1,681-1,700 of 3,978 for speaker:Sorca Clarke

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I welcome the opportunity to debate the Bill. It is a piece of work identified in the White Paper on Defence to provide more modern aggregated legislation. Sinn Féin supports the Bill and the context in which the Bill is being brought forward. While the Bill does not propose any radical changes regarding the operation of the Civil Defence, we welcome the move to amend what is a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 101. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the temporary pause on post 1994 corporals and privates who have reached or are approaching mandatory retirement age for discharge remains in effect or if following any review, has been cancelled [7621/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (15 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 194. To ask the Minister for Health if given the population, Athlone is being considered as a location for the provision of a hospital. [7622/23]

Cost-of-Living Supports: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I agree with the Minister on one thing; it is simply not right that people have to depend on food banks. I could not agree more, although, that is probably the point at which we diverge. I listened to what she said. I heard of pilot studies, future plans and everything that may or may not happen in the future, and therein lies the crux of the issue. What the Government is offering people...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I welcome the Tánaiste. Hopefully, this is the start of many positive engagements with the committee in his new role. I want to start on Vote 36 - Defence. I have a number of specific questions. I will refer to the programme expenditure by subhead, if that is of any assistance. I also have a couple of general questions that I want to ask. Given the low level of investment in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: What portion of it is set aside for that? There is a very specific reason I am asking the question. Yesterday afternoon, I was standing in a closed barracks that is under the control of the Department of Defence that has gone to rack and ruin. These are very historic buildings. It would make me believe that there are other such instances around the country, and that the Department should...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: My question was what amount has been allocated to equipment, excluding aircraft and naval vessels.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Are Hikvision systems in operation by the Department of Defence?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Is the Department reviewing the locations for potential use of Hikvision equipment?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: One would be confident it does.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I am speaking about security systems, not security policy.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: My final question was about the increase in litigation.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I thank the Tánaiste.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I do. The Chair was correct to mention the morale of the Defence Forces and Deputy Berry was correct to refer to apprentices. When we were on one of our excursions, I remember speaking with one apprentice who told me of having to turn down a social engagement in the run-up to pay day due to not having the price of a bag of chips. This was a single young person with no family...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I am referring specifically to the Army.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Is it true that they are to be paused? If so, what will be the impact?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Will the Minister brief the committee, possibly in writing, on whether that is the case and what will be the impact of such a pause on output?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: It is on the mandatory retirement of corporals and privates. That was a pro temmandatory retirement age.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Columb Barracks in Mullingar, and specifically the old prison that has graffiti on the walls dating back to the early 1900s. It is a very historic building. I want to move to subhead A7 on Defence Forces civilian support, pay and allowances. Based on the information that has been provided, the Revised Estimate for 2023 has gone up but the staff numbers seem to be going down. Is there a...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Pardon me.