Results 12,421-12,440 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 and 553 together. Following the Government's decision to further consolidate Defence Forces personnel into fewer locations, four military barracks - Clonmel, Cavan, Mullingar and Castlebar - will close on 30 March 2012. Military personnel at present occupied on security and support functions within these installations will be released for operational...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The organisation chart detailing officials and their responsibilities within my Department is set out in the table. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES DIRECTOR Mr. Ciarán Murphy45 Officials Mr. Maurice Quinn214 Officials · Conciliation & Arbitration Branch· Defence Forces Personnel Policy Branch· International Security & Defence Policy Branch· Litigation Branch· Delegation of Ireland to the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The Civil Defence Act 2002 provides that the Board shall consist of at least eight but not more than fourteen members who shall be appointed by the Minister for Defence. Legislation is currently being drafted to dissolve the Civil Defence Board and transfer...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the military authorities that as part of their Personnel Support Service (PSS), personnel serving in the location referred to by the Deputy have access to a full time civilian Social Worker whose task is to provide assistance (preventative and curative) and support to service personnel and their families where required. The PSS is a confidential information, education,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546, 547 and 552 together. The Government has decided to accept my recommendations that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force will be maintained at 9,500. I believe that this is the optimum level required to fulfil all roles assigned by Government. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 December,...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 549 together. I welcome the fact that the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) recently examined the Chapter on Financial Control in the Irish Red Cross Society that was contained in the Comptroller and Auditor General's recent Report. I also welcome the fact that the Irish Red Cross Society readily agreed to appear before the Committee and...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 551 together. I am on record as saying that I do not believe that it is conducive to good corporate governance for any individual to serve indefinitely on the Central Council or the Executive Committee of the Irish Red Cross Society, or in the same appointment. I have previously written to the Chairman of the Society and expressed my views on the need...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can confirm that no remuneration, stipend, expense facility, financial facility or similar payment is being made from the Exchequer by my Department, beyond any accrued pension entitlements, to any senior civil servant who has retired from the Department of Defence in the past five years. It was not possible to gather the detailed information sought by the Deputy in respect of the Defence...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: It has not been possible in the time available to compile all the necessary information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (14 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As I have previously outlined to the House the consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective in the ongoing defence modernisation programme and has been recommended in many reports over the past number of years. This was a key consideration of Government in addressing this issue as releasing personnel from security and support functions...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that Article 40.6.1.i of the Constitution places an obligation on the legislature in regard to blasphemous libel. Successive Attorneys General had advised the Government that until the Constitution is amended by referendum, it is necessary that blasphemous libel remain a crime and that legislation must make provision for punishment of this crime. In reforming our...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Mental Capacity Bill, due to be published in the current Dáil Session, will reform the law on mental capacity and will replace the Wards of Court system with a modern statutory framework governing decision-making on behalf of adults who lack capacity. In drafting the Bill, attention is being given to putting in place safeguards to protect vulnerable adults, lacking capacity to manage...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the figures requested by the Deputy are compiled on the last date for each month. The break down by Garda Station and rank in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on the 31 January and 28 February 2011 was as set out in the table below. Station 31/01/2011 28/02/2011 C/Supt Supt Insp Sgt Gda C/Supt Supt Insp Sgt Gda Blackrock 4 12 83 4 12 82...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150, 152 and 165 together. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined the force prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension once they have served for at least 30 years and they have reached 50 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined the Force on or after 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension once they have served at least 30 years and...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that it has not been possible to provide the information required in the limited time available. However, the information is currently being collated and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 509 on 7th February, 2012. The position remains as stated. Reply to Parliamentary Question 509 of 7th February, 2012 I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in April,...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The review process will consist of an appraisal of the foreign national in question to determine if he or she is continuing to abide by the conditions of their residence permission. In effect, it will be a continuation of the due diligence process undertaken at the time of application. I would anticipate that ordinarily residence permission would be approved for a further period of 3 years....

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As I indicated in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 1 February, neither the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011 nor the Metrology Acts 1980 to 1996 regulate the type of containers in which alcohol is sold or supplied. The position is that the majority of licensed premises, including those operating as nightclubs, are operated in a peaceable and orderly manner by the licensees concerned...

Written Answers — Control of Firearms: Control of Firearms (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I take it the Deputy is referring to a recent High Court case involving Judicial Reviews of decisions by Chief Superintendents in firearms cases. What was at issue were decisions by Chief Superintendents to refuse applications for licenses for high calibre handguns. That case was settled with no admission of wrongdoing on the part of the State but with an undertaking to consider applications...

Written Answers — Control of Firearms: Control of Firearms (9 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I understand that the Annual Review the Deputy is referring to is currently being compiled by An Garda Síochána and I expect to receive it in due course.