Results 1-17 of 17 for defence forces strength speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: ...and post-primary schools. For the next school year, which starts in September, there will be 14,600 special education teachers, 1,000 more than at the end of 2021 and many more than the entire Defence Forces at full strength, just to give the Deputy the context of the number of special education teachers we now have. This is reflected in the fact that 98% of all children with special...

European Council Meeting: Statements, Questions and Answers (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 29 and 30 June in Brussels. The agenda covered Ukraine, economic issues, security and defence, migration and external relations. The Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will provide further detail on some of the external relations issues discussed, including work towards a new partnership with Tunisia, relations with Türkiye, the ongoing...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...1984. Its conclusions provided the political underpinnings for the action plan adopted by the Delors Commission in 1985 to abolish all physical and technical barriers to free movement in the Community within seven years. The Single European Act came into force in 1987 with the clear aim of stimulating industrial and commercial expansion in a large, unified economic area. The Single...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (9 Mar 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...is helping families and businesses with the high cost of living. We all know that the past 12 months have been difficult for many people, with significant cost-of-living increases, particularly related to energy, and that is now feeding through to groceries. However, we face these challenges from a position of strength, thanks to the strong economy and the prudent management of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the high-level action plan sets out the initial implementation and oversight structures. The high-level steering board is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, and that oversees delivery. The implementation oversight group has...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Economic Data (10 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: ...Administrative and support service activities (N) 105,200 109,200 92,100 103,100 - 2.0% - 2,100 Public administration and defence, compulsory social security (O) 103,600 113,900 117,700 124,200 19.9% 20,600 Education (P) 169,800 182,600 ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on security deals with issues relating to justice, defence, Garda reform and national security. It last met on Wednesday, 30 October 2019 and the next meeting of the committee will be scheduled in the next few weeks. It encompasses matters that were previously under the remit of Cabinet committees G,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: ...other places in recent months. The risk of violence in the Republic of Ireland is considered to be low in the most recent national risk assessment. Everyone in the House will be aware that the Defence Forces are currently under-strength, especially the Naval Service and the Air Corps. It has been a real struggle to retain staff. Recruitment is going well, whereas retention is not...

Financial Resolutions 2019 - Financial Resolution No. 9: General (Resumed) (9 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: ...-to-buy scheme for first-time buyers, which has helped more than 15,000 first-time buyers to purchase a home since it was launched. We hope that as many will benefit over the next two years. We will honour the commitments we have made to restore and increase pay for hard-working public servants. Approximately €400 million will be set aside next year for teachers, gardaí,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (26 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) is calculated in terms of whole-time equivalents. This data is collated on a monthly basis and strengths are expressed in end of month figures. Defence Force Regulation CS4 provides for an establishment of 1,233 Officers, 3,661 Non-Commissioned Officers and 4,606 Privates. The table below shows the strengths (Whole Time Equivalent) breakdown...

Ceisteanna (Atógáíl) - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government Review (3 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...; planning for Brexit; generating quality employment; driving justice and policing reform; continuing the progress that has been made in education; and much more besides. As for specific commitments on defence policy, the Government is committed to building and maintaining defence capabilities. Progress continues to be made on defence-related commitments in the programme for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot confirm that. The Chief of Staff is compiling a report for the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, on that. I can say that the Naval Service, which has about 1,000 personnel, is at about 92% strength at the moment. The Chief of Staff will prepare a report on that for the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe. The Government is a strong supporter of our Defence Forces. We value the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Programme for Government (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...affordable housing; planning for Brexit; generating quality employment; driving justice and policing reform; continuing the gains that have been made in education; and much more besides. As regards specific commitments on defence policy, the Government is committed to building and maintaining defence capabilities into the future. Progress continues to be made across all fronts in...

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...;l sa Bhruiséal ar an Déardaoin agus ar an Aoine seo caite. I attended the European Council in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, 28 and 29 June. On Thursday, we met in regular format to discuss migration, security and defence, the European economy and trade and relations with Russia, as well some economic issues. On Friday morning, we met in Article 50 format to discuss the...

European Council: Statements (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: ...;. The Thursday afternoon meeting opened with a short exchange of views with President Tajani of the European Parliament. I look forward to meeting President Tajani again tomorrow in Strasbourg where I will be the first EU Head of Government to address the European Parliament as part of its debate series on the future of Europe. The European Council then moved on to review...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: .... They are not something that any nation state, even a big one, can manage on its own. We are not going to join a European army, however, or sign up to NATO and neither will we agree to a mutual defence pact, so we shall remain a neutral country. The triple-lock mechanism will remain in place. We think that is in our interests as a country. Ireland is never going to be a military...

Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (5 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: ...the plot to import arms illegally after receiving information from a trusted source. A few days later Liam Cosgrave addressed this Chamber and spoke of a situation that was "without parallel in this country since the foundation of the State". His action and that of the Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, has been credited with saving the security forces of the State from becoming embroiled in a...