Results 481-500 of 1,128,031 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Violet-Anne Wynne OR speaker:Cathal Crowe OR speaker:Mattie McGrath OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Alan Dillon OR speaker:Holly Cairns OR speaker:Sorca Clarke OR speaker:Martin Browne OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Brian Stanley OR speaker:Michael Healy-Rae OR speaker:Seán Crowe OR speaker:Joan Collins OR speaker:Brendan Howlin OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Catherine Connolly OR speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:James Browne OR speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Frank Feighan OR speaker:Paschal Donohoe OR speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick OR speaker:Noel Grealish OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Simon Harris OR speaker:Gary Gannon)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will follow up on the gratuity issue. That has not come on to my radar and more is the pity, because we could have got it done but I will pursue that. Civil servants can be granted special leave with pay if they attend for the full period of the course of training. That could be seven days or three working days for a course of annual training lasting 14 days. They could be given special...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Defence Forces

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Brendan Smith: 10. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the security needs of the central Border region will be considered in the context of the recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces that the structure of the Army be reviewed and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41900/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Brendan Smith: 25. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress to date in implementing the recommendation in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces that the structure of the Army be reviewed and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41899/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Brendan Smith: The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended significant changes to the Defence Forces. Given the changed security situation in Europe with Ukraine having been invaded by Russia and Britain's exit from the EU, we need to review the number of facilities for Army personnel and their location. Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, is located in the north east and Finner Camp is in south-west Donegal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 25 together. Deputy Smith has been very persistent with regard to the structure of our Defence Forces as it applies to the central Border region. He mentioned Cavan Barracks, Aiken Barracks and so forth. I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit-for-purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Brendan Smith: I very much welcome the fact that the needs of the central Border region in the context of defence and security issues will be taken into consideration in the review of the structures and location of Army installations. Dún Uí Néill was the most modern military barracks in Europe and opened in 1990. Very regrettably, it was closed in 2012. It is situated in the central...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the Deputy has done a lot of research on this and has spoken to a lot of military personnel. I will review this and ask my Department to factor in any potential use of barracks in Cavan in terms of future operational needs. I will bring what the Deputy said to me to the table and ask our officials to review the use of the barracks in the future in respect of military...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Brendan Smith: That knowledge is not readily available without our Permanent Defence Force being based locally. At different times, that knowledge and the work of our Defence Forces played a critical role not just in day-to-day security matters but in our State's work in keeping our country free of animal diseases over the decades when there were outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and BSE that threatened...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Pauline Tully: I too pay tribute to all members of the Defence Forces serving in Lebanon and their families at this extremely worrying time. It is important that all of the different European states affected come together and call out the actions but further action is needed because Israel is ignoring any words calling out what it has been doing. There were incidents in the 1980s where troops were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces have advised that there are sufficient supplies of both water and food in Camp Shamrock, as well as the availability of contingency food packs, and that further deliveries were made to Camp Shamrock over the last weekend. This is in addition to a contingency supply chain to allow all of UNIFIL to remain in place for up to 30 days. During the summer, in advance of all of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Pauline Tully: I know leave has been suspended from now on but I want to know if those on leave will get to return.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: They have not done so yet.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Pauline Tully: Therefore, the unit could be under pressure and under-resourced, which would be a concern. I know supplies are going to Camp Shamrock but are they getting to the people in the outposts? That is the concern. We saw the footage of Israeli tanks surrounding the outposts, which was very scary. It is a question of ensuring they are safe and looked after. I presume that, as the Tánaiste...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I said, leave into and out of the mission area is currently restricted due to the security issues, which is understandable. Likewise, planning continues for the November rotation. UNP 6-52 is one of the outposts where we lead, and at UNP 6-50, which is manned by Polish soldiers, we also lead in terms of the Irish PolBatt scenario. That will be a matter for the force commander. They...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Defence Forces

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: 9. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline the organisational structure of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, including its geographical spread and strength in respective locations; his future plans for the further development of the RDF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41892/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: I ask the Tánaiste to comment on the situation regarding the Reserve Defence Force. In most other jurisdictions, reserve defence forces take a very prominent role and, in some instances, are far larger than the permanent defence forces, and they are used in a very proactive way by the jurisdictions they are located in. I am concerned about the future of the RDF here and I would like to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are currently three branches of the Reserve Defence Force, namely, the Army Reserve, the Naval Service Reserve and the First Line Reserve. The First Line Reserve comprises former members of the Permanent Defence Force and has no defined establishment. The Second Line Reserve, consisting of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve, has an establishment of 4,069 personnel. As of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

David Stanton: I thank the Tánaiste for that comprehensive response. I hope the number will increase. I understand there was a time when the number in the RDF, formerly the FCA, was approximately 20,000. That was the situation when I was a member up to 1997, before I came in here and was told my services were no longer required. Will the Tánaiste comment on the situation regarding the tax-free...