Results 12,541-12,560 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Defence Forces Ombudsman (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have addressed the issue of resources. I am satisfied that adequate resources are available to the Ombudsman. The Government is reviewing the current freedom of information legislation with a view to determining what amendments we will introduce to it. This commitment was given in the programme for Government. I do not want to pre-empt any decision that might be made in this regard.

Consultancy Contracts (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy regarding consultancy services and value for money policy reviews provided to my Department during each of the past five years is contained in a tabular statement, which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. My Department engages the services of external consultants only when there is a clear need for specialised expertise or services not...

Consultancy Contracts (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: No. Substantial reports on the issue were carried out but I engaged no consultants in 2011 in respect of it.

Departmental Expenditure (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The overall departmental funding allocated to office equipment and external IT services was €2.4 million in both 2010 and 2011. This allocation covered the purchase of IT equipment and software, ongoing licence support costs, office equipment purchases and externally provided maintenance and ongoing support. The payments to external companies for ongoing support, the names of these...

Departmental Expenditure (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: A large proportion of the allocation for office equipment and external IT services covers ongoing licence support costs, which the Deputy will see from the tabular statement are fairly static. They have not changed for a considerable time.

Departmental Expenditure (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: Yes, there are contracts. The tabular statement details the different companies. As there is a large number, I do not want to read out their names. It would probably be unnecessary. The statement provides the company names and the services they provide, for example, website support, call cost monitoring support, etc. It also outlines the costs in 2010 and 2011. The variations in...

Defence Forces Equipment (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The purpose of defence equipment procurement is to acquire, maintain and manage equipment, weapons and ammunition for the Defence Forces at the appropriate level of operational readiness in a cost-effective manner. In the current economic situation, the acquisition of such equipment takes place on a strictly prioritised basis to ensure the Defence Forces are equipped to carry out their roles...

Civil Defence Board (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: Staff assigned to the Civil Defence Board have always been part of the overall authorised and serving numbers in my Department. Following the enactment of the Civil Defence Act 2002, my Department continued to provide administrative support services in respect of human resources, payroll, training, information and communications technology and so on for the staff of the board. The ongoing...

Civil Defence Board (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: Work is under way on the legislation. I do not want to give an exact date for its introduction because I am conscious that it will have to be finalised not only by my Department but also by the Attorney General's office. The latter, I understand, is under substantial pressure as a consequence of all the legislation emerging from my own and other Departments. Taken together with the...

Sail Training Scheme (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Government has no plans to re-establish a national sail training scheme or to procure a ship to replace the Asgard II, I have made no approach for funding to the Department of Finance. In the context of settling the Estimates for the Department of Defence for 2010, the previous Government decided that the national sail training scheme, operated by Coiste an Asgard, would be...

Sail Training Scheme (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: My Department has been approached on numerous occasions with proposals to use the Jeanie Johnston for sail training purposes, but this was never considered a viable option for several reasons. The vessel has not sailed in all conditions, can reach a maximum speed of only 7 knots and is limited in its ability to sail upwind. The working area is not suitable for sail training as there are no...

Sail Training Scheme (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have outlined all of the difficulties of which I have been advised. The appropriateness or otherwise of utilising the ship in the way the Deputy proposes was addressed in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes. In current circumstances, when there are substantial financial difficulties and limited funds, we do not have the luxury of spending...

Defence Forces Reorganisation (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As part of the comprehensive review of expenditure, the Government decided to implement a revised Permanent Defence Force strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel. In response to this decision, I initiated a major reorganisation of the Defence Forces. This will ensure that the operational effectiveness of the Permanent Defence Force is prioritised. The reorganisation will encompass a reduction...

Defence Forces Reorganisation (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I will write to the Deputy about the issue of allowances. The process we are discussing is a fundamental reorganisation of the Defence Forces. It is a significant undertaking that will require a large body of work. As mentioned already, there are a range of possible approaches that must be considered, and I do not want to pre-empt the work being undertaken. The experience from previous...

Defence Forces Reorganisation (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: Certainly, they are aware of the decision. It was not a matter of consultation but one of policy, and it fell to me as Minister to make the decision. When the initial work has been completed by the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff, there will be a consultative process on issues of relevance to the organisations. Ultimately, the decision on the new structure will be made by me and...

Defence Forces Strength (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 4 together. The number of personnel who retired from the Defence Forces in the period 1 January 2012 to 3 February 2012 was 125, and a further 237 personnel have indicated their intention to depart the Defence Forces before 29 February 2012. No target has been set for the number of retirements from the Permanent Defence Force. It should be noted that...

Defence Forces Strength (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am just checking whether I have a breakdown of the ranks involved. I do not think so, but I can certainly provide this information to the Deputy.

Defence Forces Strength (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: For the interest of Members of the House, the promotion competition for major general is taking place on 22 and 24 February; that for brigadier general is on 13, 20 and 21 February; that for colonel is on 12 March; that for the Army engineer corps is on 4 to 5 April; and there are a range of other dates between February and April on which the various other competitions for vacant positions...

Defence Forces Strength (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I do not have that information with me, but I will furnish it to the Deputy.

Army Barracks (8 Feb 2012)

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