Results 2,681-2,700 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Decentralisation Programme (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am not aware of serious operational issues. The current situation is inefficient and inappropriate and it is not favoured by the Defence Forces. Quite clearly we need centralised headquarters. My objective is to identify how that can be best achieved within the current difficult financial circumstances. I hope we will make some progress in the coming months to put in place a plan which...

Security and Defence Policy (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ireland's international security and defence policy context is defined by our policy of military neutrality, an active political and operational role in support of the United Nations, our commitments to the United Nations stand-by arrangements system, our participation in the evolving Common Security and Defence Policy and our participation in NATO's Partnership for Peace. Ireland has...

Security and Defence Policy (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is only trying to make mischief. I have set out quite clearly the Government position. The Deputy will be aware that a motion will be before the House on Thursday which deals with sending our troops to UNIFIL as part of a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. We are complying with the application of the triple lock mechanism and we are in the third point of the triple lock...

Security and Defence Policy (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ireland is part and parcel of the European security system in the context of contributing to and assisting in European Union contributions to peackeeping and humanitarian missions. That is part and parcel of a programme to which the Deputy's Government subscribed and which it supported. I find it unusual that the Deputy should have any issue about the matter.

Departmental Properties (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Department of Defence has identified 33 properties for disposal. The properties are dispersed throughout the country. Their disposal will take account of market conditions to maximise the return to the Defence Forces and generate funding for reinvestment in equipment and infrastructure. The properties include married quarters located outside barracks, lands that are considered surplus...

Departmental Properties (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Agreement has been reached to sell 11 married quarters that are situated outside barracks to the occupants of those properties. Three areas of land in Kildare and two at Kilworth, County Cork, are to be disposed of to the National Roads Authority. Six properties in Kilworth, Lifford and Rockhill are being disposed of, partly to local authorities and partly to the Department of Education and...

Departmental Properties (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Perhaps it would take too much time to do so. The full details are available if the Deputy wishes to hear them.

Departmental Properties (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I understand there is no difficulty about that.

Emergency Planning (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Last Friday, I chaired my first meeting of the Government task force on emergency planning. When I was appointed as Minister for Defence, I discovered I was responsible for this area. The meeting, inter alia, reviewed the response to the most recent spell of severe weather. I am satisfied that a significant and important role was played by the Defence Forces during the emergency. While...

Emergency Planning (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is right to say the Defence Forces have to be requested to assist the civil power. The Department of Defence chairs the task force and is well represented on it. Essentially, a co-ordinating operation is implemented through the task force. The Department primarily responsible becomes the lead Department. My understanding is that the assistance of the Defence Forces was provided...

Emergency Planning (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces can be asked to provide assistance in accordance with the agreed multi-agency framework for major emergency management. This can include, where necessary, dealing with the issue of footpaths. Representation on the task force by my Department and the Defence Forces ensures the fullest co-ordination and co-operation with the lead Department - in the circumstances which...

Army Barracks (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Department is engaged on an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under this programme there has been considerable capital investment in Custume Barracks. The most recent major projects include the construction of a new gymnasium, refurbishment of the...

Overseas Missions (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: On 1 April 2011, the Council of the European Union adopted the decision, underpinning the mandates of UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 (2011), establishing an operation called "EUFOR Libya" to stand ready to support humanitarian assistance in the region if requested by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA. This decision provides the legal...

Overseas Missions (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I never cease to be amazed at the manner in which the Deputy approaches matters. He may have noticed that if not for the intervention of the British, French and Americans, the population of Benghazi would probably be under Gadaffi rule and many thousands of civilians would have lost their lives. The town of Misrata is under siege while the town of Ajdabiya has been subject to rocket attacks...

Overseas Missions (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Last Friday, it engaged in the meaningful act of picketing the European Union offices about Libya. How did that go? Did the Deputy find after the picket that Colonel Gadaffi had stopped bombing and trying to murder his own population? Did he discover that this was a particularly effective approach to take in addressing the intent of a murderous regime? Deputy Boyd Barrett has an...

Overseas Missions (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy seems to be of the view that his protesting is effective in stopping Colonel Gadaffi from butchering his own civilian population. That seems to be the Deputy's rather confused view.

Overseas Missions (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Unfortunately, so far, the Deputy's protests have not impacted greatly on Colonel Gadaffi.

Overseas Missions (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Perhaps the Deputy might send Colonel Gadaffi a video of his protesting outside the European Union offices in Dublin. I am sure he will be impressed.

Overseas Missions (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: On the UN position, as I said, there is no requirement for the deployment of military assets for humanitarian purposes. With regard to the role of the NATO-led operation, Operation Unified Protector, to which the Deputy referred in his question, NATO-led forces are committed to full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973. They are taking action to protect civilians...

Reserve Defence Force (19 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Reserve Defence Force, as at 31 March, was as follows: First Line Reserve, 305; Army Reserve, 5,504; and Naval Service Reserve, 221. A value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force commenced in February 2010 and is ongoing. The review is being overseen by a civil-military steering committee with an independent chair and...