Results 501-520 of 1,113,976 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Réada Cronin OR speaker:Simon Coveney OR speaker:Seán Sherlock OR speaker:Denise Mitchell OR speaker:Duncan Smith OR speaker:Fergus O'Dowd OR speaker:Michael Healy-Rae OR speaker:Jackie Cahill OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Mattie McGrath OR speaker:Michael Creed OR speaker:Pádraig O'Sullivan OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:David Cullinane OR speaker:Dessie Ellis OR speaker:Pauline Tully OR speaker:Paul Donnelly OR speaker:Joe Flaherty OR speaker:Neasa Hourigan OR speaker:Stephen Donnelly OR speaker:Catherine Martin OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick OR speaker:Micheál Martin OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:Patricia Ryan OR speaker:Joan Collins OR speaker:Ciarán Cannon OR speaker:Verona Murphy OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív11 OR speaker:Brian Leddin)

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Apologies have been received from Senator Frances Black, Mr. John Finucane MP, Ms Sorcha Eastwood MP and Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh. I welcome Mr. Tim Attwood, foundation secretary of the John and Pat Hume Foundation and Ms Eileen Weir, peace guardian. Mr. Dáire Hughes, a new Member of Parliament, is also present. He is very welcome, as is Mr. David Holloway. It is very important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Ms Weir. That is a stark and a realistic picture. It is quite shocking that after so many years, that is how she and her organisation feel about these issues. If Mr. Holloway or Ms Malone would like to make a comment, they are more than welcome. If they do not, do not worry; we will go to our committee members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is very powerful evidence, as was Ms Weir's. If Ms Malone would like to say something she is more than welcome or she can comment later, if she wishes. There is no pressure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will now go to the members. The order is Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Independents, Alliance, SDLP and so on. If it is in order, I will ask Sinn Féin to nominate their speakers, because that is how we do it here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are over time but we can come back in later. I understand Deputy Feighan and Senator Currie are sharing time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does Mr. Holloway want to say anything?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have listened to everything that has been said. There is clear conflict surrounding the resolution of the problems. They are not being resolved. The witnesses are on the ground, they see it, they know it and they speak about it here and they know what they are talking about. I hear what is being said and our job as a committee if we can, as I know time is short for the Government, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand that. You want funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: As it happens, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is visiting next Thursday and will meet the committee. We will be very happy to make this point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the witnesses. We will now adjourn meeting sine die as our meeting next week has not yet been confirmed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: With the consent of the members, we will go into private session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Summit Partnership: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Attwood. Before I invite Ms Weir to speak, I welcome Mr. David Halloway, who is online. I apologise as I did not see him earlier. He is the director of Community Dialogue. Ms Louise Malone, senior lead at Youth Action NI, is also online. I am more than happy for them to make contributions at any stage. If they wish to make a statement, they can do so after Ms Weir. They are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: A whole range of accommodation projects are under way. We have the refurbishment of block 4 in Haulbowline, with 74 beds at a cost of €500,000. I mentioned the refurbishment of the old communications building, creating 20 beds at a cost of €4.2 million and the refurbishment of the cadet mess building in Haulbowline, creating 24 beds at a cost of €3.7 million, and on it...