Results 321-340 of 1,415 for speaker:Tom Kitt

Defence Forces Strength. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: For security and operational reasons it has not been military practice to publish exact details of the establishment or actual strength of the ARW. There is merit in sticking to that position. It is critical that the high standards required for entry into the unit are maintained. However, the unit and operation staff review entry standards on an ongoing basis. Regarding the numbers,...

Defence Forces Strength. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: It is not appropriate for me to comment on unresolved claims submitted under the conciliation and arbitration scheme. I believe a number of factors motivate members of the Defence Forces regarding the ARW, including the nature of the activities, training and roles of the ARW, as well as personal motivation. We want to see all these matters resolved by agreement with the association....

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 19 together. The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. In the 2000 White Paper on Defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be based on an eight-ship flotilla and committed to a modernisation and replacement...

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I outlined the ongoing process, which comprises tendering and so on, and the timescale attaching to it. Once details of the costs are known, funding arrangements will be a matter for further consideration in consultation with the Minister for Finance in the context of the Estimates process. That will kick in at a certain time. Many of the ships have a set lifespan. The LE Emer was...

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: On the basis of the analysis conducted, the group concluded that two different types of vessels are required to allow the Naval Service to continue to have a presence and to undertake its assigned tasks throughout Ireland's 200 mile exclusive economic zone into the future. Vessels are expected to remain in service for 30 years. Issues such as deteriorating sea and weather conditions must...

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: The costs will have to be worked out as the process evolves because when the ships have been commissioned, their lifespan of 30 years must be included in calculations. For example, the LE Emer was commissioned in 1978, the LE Aoife in 1979, the LE Aisling in 1980 and the LE Eithne in 1984. Costs will arise through an incremental period. I agree with the Deputy that drug trafficking is a key...

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I thank the Deputy, and I am sorry.

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I obviously agree with the Deputy that ships should be replaced when they come to the end of their useful life. That normally happens after 30 years and it has to be done. Members of all parties support that. The LE Eithne and the LE Ciara will have 30 years service completed in 2014, while the LE Orla will reach that longmark in 2015. What needs to be done is staring us in the face. I...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: The Minister did not mention this in his speech and is not currently considering the possibility of the recruitment of an additional 1,000 personnel to the Defence Forces. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, as the strength sufficient to meet all foreseeable military requirements for the period comprehended by the...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: The issue was not referred to by the Minister in his speech, but there was an informal press gathering and the Minister responded to a suggestion from PDFORRA that the Defence Forces strength be increased by 1,000. He made it clear that there would be no immediate revision of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, numbers. It is Government policy that the current strength of 10,000 is sufficient...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I agree with the Deputy. The strength of 10,500 as stipulated in the White Paper was determined after a good deal of analysis of all the relevant factors. This included a programme of reform and reorganisation to ensure "that Ireland has a world class military organisation". I am satisfied the Defence Forces have the capacity to deal with the changes that have taken place in the defence...

Defence Forces Provisions. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: The military authorities have clarified the position regarding the inclusion of Brazilian beef in ration packs supplied to the Defence Forces under contract. A tender competition for the supply of ration packs to the Defence Forces was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union and conducted in accordance with national and EU public procurement rules. All quotations received...

Defence Forces Provisions. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: Food safety is of primary importance and, as the Deputy indicated, it is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who has assured me that detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under...

Defence Forces Provisions. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I thank the Deputy for his remarks. We will continue to purchase beef and other foodstuffs for the Defence Forces in line with national and EU procurement legislation. The military authorities assured me that fresh beef consumed by the Defence Forces daily is sourced from local Irish producers. The issue in question concerns the supply of ration packs to the Defence Forces. The contract...

Defence Forces Provisions. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: That is a fair assessment. We must abide by EU procurement legislation and do so as a responsible member state. This matter has been well rehearsed in the media and we know the position of the IFA. The Department will comply with the relevant national and EU food safety legislation designed to ensure that animal products are produced to standards that guarantee the safety of food and the...

Overseas Missions. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 13, 15, 26, 34, 36 and 38 together. On 25 September 2007, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 1778 establishing a multidimensional UN mission in Chad and in the Central African Republic that will help strengthen security in the region. The resolution stipulated that the multidimensional presence would consist of (i) a new United...

Overseas Missions. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I mentioned earlier that I had some personal experience of this a few years ago, admittedly in 2004 towards the end of my time as Minister of State with responsibility for development, when I visited Darfur and found out about the security situation and dangers there. I pay tribute to the non-governmental organisations who are working in very dangerous situations. Obviously, I have been...

Military Archives. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: I am delighted to able to tell the Deputy that the advertisements for professional archivists appear in today's national newspapers and will also appear in the Sunday papers this weekend. Details are also available on the Department of Defence website, www.defence.ie. The Taoiseach announced, in the context of the 90th anniversary celebrations of 1916, that the Government had decided to make...

Military Archives. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: As Deputy O'Shea is aware, an all-party Oireachtas committee will meet to discuss these matters. My position is that this committee should consider that aspect of it as well.

Army Equitation School. (8 Nov 2007)

Tom Kitt: The mission of the Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to promote the Irish horse abroad through participation in international competitions. The school has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad, it has successfully promoted...