Results 1,701-1,720 of 7,401 for speaker:John Brady

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Ukraine War: Ambassadors of Ukraine and Moldova (21 Feb 2023)

John Brady: I thank the ambassadors for coming before our committee again. Much has been said, and correctly so, about the Russian invasion of George in 2008. That was the start of Russia's involvement in occupying other countries. We cannot forget the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014. The invasions of Donetsk and Luhansk also occurred around the same time. The reaction of the international...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Feb 2023)

John Brady: 360. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the allowance paid to serving members of the Defence Forces on duty in the Border counties is considered as pensionable income for retiring members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8717/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (21 Feb 2023)

John Brady: 590. To ask the Minister for Health if the Government plans to open the mobility allowance grant for people with disabilities to new applicants in the near future; if he will provide an update on the research and findings carried out by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, Transport Working Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8053/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2023)

John Brady: 112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the tender document that was due to go out by the end of 2022 for the next bundle of schools has been issued for a school (details supplied); and if so, to confirm that the school is listed on the tender document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7568/23]

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)

John Brady: If the Tánaiste wants to respond to some of Deputy Clarke's questions first, it might make sense.

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)

John Brady: I have several issues to raise with the Tánaiste. The first concerns the current strength of the Permanent Defence Force. I welcome the new metric but it is bizarre that it is new. The output target for this year is to increase the numbers up to 8,600 from what is, in my estimation, an all-time low of 7,987 currently. Will the Tánaiste outline what plans are in place for...

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)

John Brady: Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, in the high-level action plan. I will not read them all out. I do not know whether the Tánaiste's colleagues have them.

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)

John Brady: Yes. These are the recommendations on the CHOD, the creation of a Defence Forces headquarters that would report to the CHOD, and the creation of three service chiefs.

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)

John Brady: Yes. I am just looking for the Tánaiste's view. According to the plan, the then Minister agreed broadly with these recommendations. My next point relates to the commission's report but also ties in with one of the major issues within the Defence Forces. The Tánaiste highlighted that there had been significant improvements in terms of pay. He stated that a private might start...

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)

John Brady: Does the Tánaiste have a figure for how many, of the 1,000 who applied, were processed?

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)

John Brady: The Tánaiste reckons the call for tender went out in October, so it will probably be March or April before we see something coming from this process.

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)

John Brady: Yes. It went out in October, so in fairness-----

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)

John Brady: Okay. We should have some feedback by mid-summer.

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)

John Brady: There is a housing crisis and we must all acknowledge it. Serious concern has also been expressed, however, by members of the Defence Forces. These must also be listened to as well.

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)

John Brady: Up until this point it has been take, take, take-----

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)

John Brady: It is to be hoped it is. There are serious concerns 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)

John Brady: -----the Defence Forces, and its members will articulate these points better than I will. I refer to the essential need for a military presence in the city centre, or as close to it as possible. Regarding any notion of putting this on the periphery, out in Kildare, and building something on the Curragh or somewhere like that, I do not think that would be a runner for anyone. There are...

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)

John Brady: There were a few more points.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

John Brady: I will begin by offering my condolences to the people of Türkiye and Syria in what has been an horrific eight days. More than 35,000 people have been killed in both countries. I offer my condolences also to GOAL, which has lost 27 of its members, and there may still be some people missing also. Again, I offer my condolences. It is extraordinary that seven survivors have been pulled...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

John Brady: The Tánaiste has set a parameter for himself and hopefully we will see it. We seem to be going backwards. What is the approach and where is the roadmap for us to achieve that very legitimate objective of reaching 0.7% of GNI? Perhaps the Tánaiste will touch on that. I also want to address an issue that I brought up with the Tánaiste on the floor of the Chamber last...