Results 361-380 of 1,415 for speaker:Tom Kitt

Written Answers — Fur Industry: Fur Industry (6 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: The CSO does not collect or compile statistics on the output from fur farms in its agricultural statistics.

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (6 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: The information requested by the Deputy is presented in Table 1 which identifies Ireland's merchandise trade with the least developed countries, as defined by the UN-OHRLLS*, for the year 2004 and for the period January-August 2005. The year 2004 is the latest one for which annual data are available. For comparative purposes Table 2 identifies merchandise trade for the years 2001, 2002 and...

Business of Dáil. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: Deputy Kenny can stay down in Mayo.

EU Battle Groups. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, who is in RTE at the moment on budget matters. The background to the rapid response element concept, sometimes referred to as battle groups, is that at the European Council in Helsinki in 1999, member states set themselves a headline goal that by 2003, co-operating together and voluntarily, they will be able to deploy...

EU Battle Groups. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: I agree with the Deputy that the work being undertaken by the Minister in consultation with his colleagues is important. The Minister is anxious to report back as soon as possible, but that is all I am able to say today. He has just received it but will not delay in bringing forward his proposals to Cabinet. The Deputy will be aware there is another parliamentary question today on the subject...

Defence Forces Equipment. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: The items usually displayed by the Defence Forces at public or publicity events such as charity events, recruitment drives etc. include vehicles, armoured vehicles or aircraft, technical equipment such as radios and engineering equipment, and clothing or personal kit items. Defence Forces weapons are not displayed at public or publicity events. From time to time events arise which are...

Defence Forces Equipment. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: I accept what Deputy Sherlock is saying. I will repeat what my colleague, the Minister for Defence, said. He visited the Defence Forces training centre in the Curragh on 16 November to attend a display by the Army Ranger Wing to mark its 25th anniversary and to open a new stores facility at the ARW headquarters. The display consisted of a number of training exercises and simulated rescues,...

Defence Forces Equipment. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: I can say that most definitely on behalf of my colleague. The Minister also regrets if an impression was given in the media that his participation at the event was an attempt to glamorise gun crime. He would not wish that to be the case. His intention on the day was to highlight the professionalism of the ARW, the excellence of its training and the sophistication of the equipment provided to...

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: Ireland subscribes to the United Nations stand-by arrangements system, UNSAS, under which the State offers to provide up to 850 personnel on overseas service at any given time. Ireland's commitment under the UNSAS represents 10% of the total Army strength. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations. This overall commitment is not being...

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: I mentioned earlier that I was privileged to serve as Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development. When I met Army personnel abroad, I have always been proud of their work and, having visited Liberia twice, I am aware of their commitment. The involvement of 850 personnel in overseas missions will not be changed. The issue under discussion relates solely to the number of...

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: I am aware of the views of RACO on this issue and those views will be taken on board by the Minister. The Chief of Staff agrees that the high number of officers serving overseas may adversely impact on commitments at home. This issue arises in the context of the Liberian mission coming to an end. That mission has been extended but the Defence Forces require a rest period of several months to...

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: In the course of a speech on 18 November 2005 at the Royal Irish Academy, at an event to mark 50 years of UN participation, my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, outlined his plans to set up a volunteer corps unit within his Department to harness the strong volunteer spirit in the country. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will provide advice, as required, to this...

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: There will be ongoing discussions between both Ministers on such initiatives. I was involved as Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development in pushing the voluntarism agenda. I warmly welcome the Deputy's interest in this area and his support for this initiative. Communication is ongoing between both Ministers. The Department of Foreign Affairs was anxious to push this. The...

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: Yes, that is my understanding. A Department must lead in this area and my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, will lead the initiative. His officials and my officials will meet on 11 December to progress this issue.

Overseas Missions. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: If I need to come back to the Deputy on this, I will. Voluntarism should embrace needs at home and abroad. As we witnessed when the Special Olympics were held in Dublin, there is a desire among the population for us to give leadership on voluntarism. This initiative should be co-ordinated with the push on voluntarism in local communities. It would be wise to develop this concept along those...

Defence Forces Training. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: A prospectus of courses is prepared each year in a brochure format that is distributed to embassies. Candidates are then considered on the basis of applications received through the respective embassies. To date, it has been possible to accept all applications from foreign states for places on the courses for which they applied. The extensive body of experience gained by the Permanent Defence...

Defence Forces Training. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: The Minister is in RTE.

Defence Forces Training. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: All the countries involved have diplomatic relations with Ireland and they are all members of the UN. The participation of the members of the military forces of other nations has the marked advantage of building useful international links as regards the potential interoperability and familiarity between our Defence Forces and the military of other states with which they may well undertake...

Defence Forces Training. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: Obviously, we have a very strong position on protecting human rights and these issues have been raised in the House in recent days in regard to Shannon, etc. We have accepted all applications from foreign states for places on the courses actually applied for. It involves military training arranged on an ad hoc basis, so it is not that rigidly structured. Suffice it to say, I will ask the...

Decentralisation Programme. (7 Dec 2005)

Tom Kitt: The Government decision on decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement on 3 December 2003 provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, County Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 202. While the Office of Public Works has identified a suitable site in Newbridge for the Department's new...