Results 521-540 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Question Nos. 32 and 52 together. 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 An Garda Síochána as required. The Defence Forces, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, keep the threat level under continual review. The military...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: Since the late 1990's, the Defence Forces have participated in peace support operations in the Western Balkans through their troop presence in the UN mandated NATO-led KFOR mission in Kosovo and in the UN mandated EU-led Operation ALTHEA (formerly SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As outlined in the budget in December 2009, it had been decided that the Defence Forces commitments to overseas...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 47 and 81 together. The Reserve Defence Force's most important contribution, as outlined in the White Paper on Defence (2000), is to support the Permanent Defence Force in its contingency defence roles in an emergency situation. As such, in peacetime, the main function of the Reserve Defence Force is to train and prepare for these contingency roles. This...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: As the Deputy will be aware, emergency planning in this country is based on the 'lead department' principle. This means that each department is responsible for assessing the risks, making appropriate plans and leading the response to those emergencies that impact on its areas of responsibility. The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which I chair, supports coordination in emergency...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Review: Defence Forces Review (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 41, and 55 together. The PA Report assessed the current arrangements for the provision of medical services and proposed a model for future delivery of those services. The Consultants recommended a programme of major change. As recommended by PA, Working Groups have been set up to progress the various projects identified. These continue to meet regularly...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Staff: Defence Forces Staff (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 157 together. Within the available resources, the Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which Government approval has been secured in the context of Budget 2010. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Department of Defence availed in 2007 and 2008 of the services of Murray Consultants for the Public Information and Awareness Campaign on Emergency Planning. Murray Consultants were awarded the PR contract for the campaign following and EU wide tender process. In April 2008, An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., launched this Campaign National Emergency Coordination Centre. The main focus...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 50 and 153 together. A vessel replacement strategy for the Naval Service is currently in progress following the commencement of a tender competition in 2007. The competition sought tenders for the purchase of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), with an option for a third, and one Extended Patrol Vessel (EPV), with an option for a second. The process...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: The question of a cadet class in 2010 is being considered in the context of the review of structures and posts required to meet the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the Government decision to maintain the strength of the Defence Forces at a complement of 10,000 serving personnel. I will consider the matter further in the context of the results of this review.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 77 together. A Board of Officers was convened in 2009 to examine the introduction of a Roll Over Protection System (ROPS) for use in military trucks. Following submission of the Board's report to the relevant military authorities in July 2009, a decision was reached to modify 100 Troop Carrying Vehicles (TCVs) to accept ROPS and to fit ROPS units to 50...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: A National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents (NEPNA) has been in place since 1992. In 1998, the Government decided to improve the NEPNA by enhancing the speed and quality of decision making by committees in the event and immediate aftermath of a nuclear accident. This plan provides a framework for the national response to a large scale nuclear accident. A Service Level Agreement (SLA)...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: The current Military Judge is due to retire on 22 July next. The Department of Finance has recently approved the filling of this post and the military authorities are in the process of inviting eligible officers to provide expressions of interest. My Department is also in the process of establishing the committee for the purpose of identifying officers and informing the Government of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: The question of the recruitment of Non-Irish Nationals to the Defence Forces is not a new one. Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of non-Irish nationals to the Defence Forces. Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, Apprenticeship Competition, General Service Enlistment or Direct Entry Competitions which are held to...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which includes Ministers, senior officials of government departments, senior officers of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and officials of other key public authorities, which have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. The Government Task Force meets on a regular basis and the most recent meeting took place...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: The military authorities have informed me that they have mechanisms that are designed to ensure that the required command, administration and training needs of Reserve Units are met. The mechanisms include Defence Force Regulations, Admin Instructions, the Defence Forces Human Resources Strategy, the Defence Forces Annual Plan, the Annual training directive as well as training instructions,...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 to 59, inclusive, 66, 82 and 149 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of Search and Rescue, (SAR) services within the Irish Search and Rescue region. In accordance with the roles assigned to them by Government in the White Paper on Defence, the Defence Forces are committed to providing support to the civil authorities including in relation to Search and Rescue. In this regard, the Air Corps...

Written Answers — Naval Service Operations: Naval Service Operations (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: As part of the Estimates process for 2010, the Department sought to implement measures which would bring about the savings or the equivalent thereof as identified in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme. As part of this process and to achieve a reduction in current expenditure, the Minister for Defence proposed a cut to the Naval Service patrol...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Question Nos. 62 and 79 together. The White Paper on Defence (2000) sets out the Government's Defence policy, having regard to an assessment of the defence and security environment. It set out the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force based on a strength in the region of 12,000. The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan was formally launched in July 2004 and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (2 Jun 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Reserve Defence Force is a part-time, voluntary organisation whose primary activity is training. Members are free to determine their own level of participation in Reserve activities and may resign from the Reserve at any time. Their service is provided entirely on a voluntary basis with no compulsion to attend. Members of the Reserve undergo both paid and unpaid training. A gratuity is...