Results 21-40 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (12 Jan 2011)

Tony Killeen: The All Party Oireachtas Consultation Group on the Centenary of the Rising, which I chair and on which I represent the Government, also comprises Deputy Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael), Deputy Joe Costello (Labour), Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin) and Deputy Michael Lowry (for independent members). I am aware of the interest of members to have a meeting of the Group and will convene it as...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Jan 2011)

Tony Killeen: I am advised by the Military authorities that as at 31 December 2010, there were 795 Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel stationed in McKee Barracks and 829 PDF personnel stationed in Cathal Brugha Barracks.

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (12 Jan 2011)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 923 and 925 together. The Chief State Solicitors Office and the State Claims Agency deal with all legal matters on behalf of the Department. As such it would seldom arise that the Department procure the services of external solicitors and barristers directly. In 2007 McCann Fitzgerald solicitors were contracted, through a competitive tendering process, to...

Written Answers — Legal Proceedings: Legal Proceedings (12 Jan 2011)

Tony Killeen: The information requested in relation to cases initiated is set out in the following table: Year No. of claimsInitiated Category of Claims LegalRepresentatives Personal Injuries* Judicial Review Chief State Solicitor's Office State Claims Agency 2008 160 147 13 20 140 2009 182 174 8 18 164 2010 126 122 4 17 109 * Personal injuries and property damage cases No separate...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Jan 2011)

Tony Killeen: Resulting from the Government Decision regarding the reduction of public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, recruitment, promotions and acting-up appointments in the Permanent Defence Forces were suspended. However, in order to maintain the ongoing operational capability of the Defence Forces, a limited number of exceptions to the application of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Jan 2011)

Tony Killeen: There has been very significant investment in equipment for the Defence Forces in recent years. In that regard, a particular focus was placed in the investment in equipment for the individual soldier. This included the acquisition of an Integrated Protection and Load Carrying System for soldiers, which included Body Armour, Helmets, Back Packs (Rucksacks) and Battle Vests. In addition to the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (16 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The relevant bodies within the remit of the Department are the Civil Defence Board, the Board of Coiste an Asgard and the Army Pensions Board. There were no appointments made to these bodies in the period 1 June 2010 to date in 2010. Mr David J O'Callaghan was appointed by the Government as a member of the Central Council of the Irish Red Cross Society on 8 September 2010 on my nomination....

Written Answers — Severe Weather Events: Severe Weather Events (16 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are members of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, in addition, they also participated in the Emergency Response Committee which dealt with the recent severe weather. One of the ways in which the Defence Forces provide assistance in aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) is by providing assistance under the agreed multi-agency...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 contains a commitment "to introduce significantly improved performance management across all Public Service areas, and following the current review, the Performance Management and Development System will be strengthened with promotion and incremental progression linked in all cases to performance and the implementation of appropriate systems to address...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Department employs individuals on temporary contract from time to time for a range of reasons, such as the provision of term time cover, staff on fixed purpose contracts or political appointees such as Special Advisors or Personal Assistants. The following table sets out the number of persons employed on temporary contracts and their associated costs in 2009 and 2010. Year Number of...

Written Answers — Maritime Surveillance and Security: Maritime Surveillance and Security (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: An Inter-Departmental Maritime Surveillance Co-ordination Group (MarSur CG), chaired by the Department of Transport, was established in 2009 under the auspices of the Maritime Co-ordination Group of Assistant Secretaries. The MarSur Co-ordination Group is working towards the creation of a common information-sharing environment to enhance safety and security within the Irish maritime domain....

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 51 together. The All Party Oireachtas Consultation Group on the Centenary of the Rising, which I chair and represent the Government on, also comprises Deputy Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael), Deputy Joe Costello (Labour), Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin) and Deputy Michael Lowry (for independent members). The Secretariat is provided by the Department...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces as at 30 November 2010, the latest date for which figures are currently available, was 9,502 comprising 7,704 Army, 769 Air Corps and 1,029 Naval Service Personnel. The number of officers and the number of enlisted personnel who have left the Permanent Defence Forces to date in 2010 is 43 and 425...

Written Answers — Naval Service-Air Corps Operations: Naval Service-Air Corps Operations (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 42 together. Responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking rests primarily with the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners. Responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. However, the White Paper on Defence provides for a security role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to assist and support the...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Minister for Defence has no role in relation to the appointment of a new Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross Society which is an independent charitable organisation with full powers to manage and administer its affairs. However, I understand that interviews for the post of Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross Society commenced earlier this week. In these circumstances, I would...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos 34, 36, 40, 50, 52, 240 and 244 together. Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: Last weekend the Irish Red Cross published the report of its internal investigation. I have examined the report and I note there was no misappropriation or mis-allocation of funds. However, there were serious administrative failures in the Society with regard to the management of some of the monies collected for the Tsunami Appeal in 2005. The report states that the Society did not have...

Written Answers — Army Operations: Army Operations (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Gardaí as required. Requests for aid to the civil power are normally made by a member of An Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector. Requests made by An Garda Síochána for assistance in dealing...

Written Answers — White Paper on Defence: White Paper on Defence (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 48 together. I circulated a draft memorandum to my cabinet colleagues, in October 2010, outlining the proposed approach to the development of the new White Paper on Defence. I have considered the comments received and these will be reflected in the final memorandum. The National Recovery Plan 2011-2014, which was published recently, sets out the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (15 Dec 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 53, 56, 63 and 70 together. I am satisfied that the screening system employed by the Defence Forces adheres to international best practice. This screening system automatically rules out personnel from overseas service with certain conditions e.g. depression, anxiety, neurodegenerative disorders etc. which, as has been indicated by the Irish Medicine...