Results 281-300 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Question Nos. 8 and 223 together. The number of female personnel serving in the Permanent Defence Force on 30 September 2010, the last date for which figures are available, was 557, of which 456 were serving in the Army, 32 in the Air Corps and 69 in the Naval Service. In terms of rank, the breakdown of female personnel serving on 30 September 2010 was 143 officers, 167...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Deputy O'Shea is correct. The percentage of women eligible increased from 60% to 90% of the population through the decision of the then Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, in 2006. In 2007, the TNS MRBI study was commissioned to examine the retention and recruitment of women to the Defence Forces. I have asked for information on the applications to the current recruitment drive....

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I understand some progress has been made on virtually all of the recommendations arising from the TNS MRBI survey. Some of the recommendations are under way in respect of family friendly policies in the Defence Forces. It will be difficult to judge in the short term but one expects, over a period of five to ten years, to see a marked improvement in retention figures. However, if that was...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The bulk of the recommendations arising from the 2007 report related to internal matters and much work has been done in that regard. The external issue of presenting a particular image is somewhat more challenging and the problem appears to be borne out if the application figures are as low as is indicated. This may be a function of a larger cohort of males being available and interested...

National Emergency Plan (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Question Nos. 9 and 214 together. There are two committees dealing with emergency planning that come under the aegis of my Department, namely the Government taskforce on emergency planning and the interdepartmental working group on emergency planning. The Government taskforce on emergency planning, which was established in 2001, is comprised of Ministers and-or senior...

National Emergency Plan (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am aware the Reserve Defence Force was deployed in at least one situation during the weather emergencies because I saw it happening. The Reserve Defence Force is available to be called in when the judgment is made that the Defence Forces are required. It is difficult to be specific or prescriptive about when to call in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are represented on the...

National Emergency Plan (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The issue of personal liability arose in the past three or four taskforce meetings I attended. A number of initiatives are under way in that regard. I understand the Department of Justice and Law Reform has introduced legislation to clarify the situation with regard to some personnel. As a general principle my understanding is that if people carry out whatever duties they undertake with...

Irish Red Cross Society (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The current governance proposals arise from a resolution passed in November 2007, by the council of delegates of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The resolution urged all national societies, as requested by action 3 of the strategy for the movement, to examine and update their statutes, their rules and related legal texts by 2010, in accordance with the...

Irish Red Cross Society (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I agree that the Irish Red Cross Society is a very important organisation. It is important to remember that the governance of the society is set out under the terms of the Geneva Convention, the 1938 Act and the 1939 order. One of the principal requirements of the Minister is to ensure the independence of the Irish Red Cross Society. That provision is not necessarily put in place because...

Irish Red Cross Society (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Of course after the report of the task force was received a number of steps needed to be undertaken, not least of which was consultation with the international Red Cross with regard to whether the working group proposals were appropriate in the context of the changes the international Red Cross had sought in 2007. There was considerable consultation at that level. There was also...

Irish Red Cross Society (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I agree with the Deputy on the role of the volunteers in the Irish Red Cross Society and the wonderful work they do as well as the impact of the Red Cross internationally. As previously discussed in the Chamber, it would have been impossible to advance all this in the absence of a chairman being in position to lead the executive as considerable work needs to be done there. I assure the...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Lariam is authorised for use by the Irish Medicines Board which is the statutory regulatory body charged with regulating the use of medicines, to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines available in Ireland. Lariam was first authorised for use by the Irish Medicines Board in 1989. The authorised product information provides details to ensure the safe and effective use of this...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The issue of the medication affecting fertility has not been brought to my notice at any point. I can have that matter checked for the Deputy. I understand that the blood test is carried out in the main to establish whether there would be any impacts of side effects from the potential effects of Lariam on the liver. With regard to the prescribing of the medication, all personnel departing...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am aware of the fact that the US army has ceased using Lariam. I understand there may be two reasons for that. The first is that many of its soldiers may not be operating in areas where there is a risk of contracting malaria. My understanding is that the vast majority of armies which are deployed in sub-Saharan Africa in particular and in areas where the risk of contracting malaria from...

Defence Forces Strength (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: Within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Permanent Defence Force. Government approval was secured in the context of budget 2010 for a level of 10,000 all ranks. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure...

Defence Forces Strength (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: I have no control over the review but Deputy Stanton is correct about the issue of morale. The employment control framework, ECF, plays a significant role in this and should be dealt with as quickly as possible. I expect the review's requirements to be undertaken as quickly a possible and given full attention. Until the review is presented to me, I am not in a position to proceed, however....

Defence Forces Strength (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The majority of those in acting-up positions are paid. The review will identify the structures and posts needed to meet the operational requirements of the Defence Forces. Given the overall reduction of numbers in the Permanent Defence Force, some reduction in the number of officer and NCO posts is inevitable. I appreciate it can be frustrating for the Deputies opposite but it is difficult...

Defence Forces Strength (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: That may be the case. The Deputy is correct the bulk of the work has been done with the ECF and it reflects the downsizing of numbers and the modernisation process. As soon as the review is completed and approved by me, people will be brought into most of the positions in question.

Defence Forces Strength (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: That is one tactic I have learned in this post.

Defence Forces Ombudsman (21 Oct 2010)

Tony Killeen: The function of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is to act as the ultimate point of appeal for and administrative investigation into complaints made by members and former members of the Defence Forces against other members or former members of the Defence Forces or against a civil servant of the Department of Defence. The ombudsman may investigate a complaint in respect of an action or...