Results 121-140 of 1,415 for speaker:Tom Kitt

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: Much of this issue will hinge on the work of the consultants. There are issues to be addressed. At the end of the summer the consultants will be appointed and later in the year we will have the report. The Deputy is correct in saying that full information concerning the patients charter should become available. I have asked for a copy of the charter. The Deputy asked that the charter be...

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I will convey Deputy O'Shea's view on the scholarship-type system to my officials and will ask them to convey it to the consultants examining the options available. There are problems with personnel because there are 21 doctors in the medical corps. We need more and, in the absence of a sufficient number of military and medical officers, civilian doctors and dentists are employed on a...

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I will convey Deputy Deenihan's point to my officials. The medical corps is not immune to the wider challenges in the medical field. In addition to the pay and allowance factors, career opportunities for a young doctor in the Defence Forces and other ways to attract a medical officer are being examined. The Minister will be in a position to report on progress in due course.

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 9, 11, 14, 23, 25, 35, 46, 157 and 161 together. The European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778, was formally launched by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 January 2008. Ireland will be the second largest...

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: If the House will allow, I will revert to the Deputy with some details on that incident. As he is aware, the troops are present to protect the displaced people and refugees and must be careful not to become directly involved in issues that are the responsibility of the Chadian Government. EUFOR needed to ensure it did not become involved in the fighting in early April between the Chadian...

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: Regarding subsidised leave flights, particular arrangements were made in the context of Liberia because its members had a six-month tour of duty, whereas personnel on the Chadian mission will serve four-month tours of duty. As the Deputy stated, they will not be availing of——

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: Yes. I will happily check the position concerning anyone who will be present for six months. In my response to a priority question, I stated my agreement with the Deputies concerning the importance of identifying the distinct nature of the Irish contingent. We are being deployed in Goz Beida in eastern Chad and French forces are being deployed in a sector south of us encompassing the north...

Overseas Missions. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I am happy to state the EUFOR mission to Chad is the most multinational military operation conducted in Africa by the European Union thus far. As the Deputy is aware, at least 17 EU member states will deploy, including France, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Romania, Austria, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Greece....

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 19 together. All members of the Permanent Defence Force are required to undergo an annual medical examination. In 2007, a total of 8,111 annual medical examinations were conducted with a shortfall of 2,323. The figures in respect of earlier years are being collated and will be provided to the Deputies as soon as they are available. The shortage of...

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: The introduction of consultants to consider the matter indicates the present position must be improved. It constitutes an indication that something must be done. However, sick soldiers receive the requisite care and the services of civilian medical practitioners are used to back up the Medical Corps to ensure the primary health care requirements arising in barracks are met. One must...

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: The doctor in question was appointed as a medical officer in the Permanent Defence Force on a short service commission of 12 months on 1 May 2007 after undergoing the standard recruitment process for doctors. This included an interview by the Defence Forces, a medical examination by the Defence Forces, security clearance by the Garda Síochána and registration validation with the Irish...

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I acknowledge that lessons must be learnt from this matter. The person did not have permission to enter the State and Deputy O'Shea made a valid point about the need for Departments to co-operate more closely and on improvements to checking systems. It is important we apply that principle in the future through the use of modern information technology. This person was working in a hospital...

Defence Forces Medical Service. (10 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: A complete review of the recruitment and checking processes has been undertaken for all applicants. The review took account of this case as well as improvements that have been implemented elsewhere in the public service, including requirements on applicants to supply additional information on their histories and improvements in the security clearance process. Following discussions between...

Written Answers — Trade Statistics: Trade Statistics (9 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: The data requested by the Deputy is presented in the table for 2000 to 2007 incl. The table shows the merchandise trade balance for the countries requested i.e. exports minus imports over the period. Balance of Trade (Merchandise Exports minus Imports) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 â'¬000 Burma -1,249 -584 161...

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I propose to share time with the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Pat Carey. I am pleased to speak in favour of the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill which provides for a referendum to permit ratification of the EU reform treaty. This treaty has evolved over the years in a very structured way through a most democratic...

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I am sharing time with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey. I will conclude in one minute. The referendum presents us with an important decision about our future. Two different paths are available to us. The opponents of the reform treaty argue that we should turn our backs on six years of painstaking negotiations, which have produced a remarkable consensus among the 27...

Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: He is doing his best.

Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: We will discuss it at the Whips meeting.

Regional Sittings of Joint Committee on European Affairs: Motion (8 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: I move: That Dáil Éireann, in accordance with Article 15.1.3° of the Constitution, hereby determines that the Joint Committee on European Affairs may meet in the cities of Cork, Galway and Limerick and the towns of Athlone and Dundalk during the period from 10th April to 15th May 2008, in connection with its public deliberations on the Lisbon Reform Treaty.

Written Answers — Census 2006: Census 2006 (2 Apr 2008)

Tom Kitt: The most up-to-date information available, as requested by the deputy, is taken from the Census 2006 and is contained in the following tables. Students and school children aged 5 years and over usually resident and present in the state by county enumerated by broad age group and means of travel to school or college Age group Total On foot Bicycle Bus, minibus or coach Train, DART or LUAS...