Results 3,221-3,240 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. These figures relate solely to persons committed for non payment of television fines, dog licence fines or parking fines for the years 2007 to 2010. Year Dog Licence Fine Parking Fine No TV Licence Fine 2007 6 36 21 2008 7 90 48 2009 7 216 75 2010 8 382 152 The average custodial sentence length for each category...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: Since taking up my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have not yet had an opportunity to visit Irish troops serving on overseas missions. However, as the House will be aware, an Irish battalion is due to be deployed to Southern Lebanon by the end of June 2011, for service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). I hope to visit the Irish personnel in UNIFIL later this...

Written Answers — Garda Representative Bodies: Garda Representative Bodies (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: A Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C & A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force was established in 1993 and provides a formal mechanism for both the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association to engage with the Official side on matters which come within the scope of the Scheme. Under the Scheme,...

Written Answers — Capital Projects: Capital Projects (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the living, training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. The programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings. Under this programme there has been...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Ministerial Air Transport Service is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The Learjet 45 has the capacity to carry 7 passengers and is tasked with short and medium haul missions to the UK and Europe. The Gulfstream IV, has the capacity to carry 14 passengers and can be tasked with long haul missions to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Remuneration: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: A claim for Instructor Allowance to be paid to six personnel serving in instructor appointments, Transport Coy 1 LSB, was received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme (C & A scheme) for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The claim has been the subject of correspondence between the Department and the...

Written Answers — Explosive Devices: Explosive Devices (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The total number of viable explosive devices found to date in 2011 is 22. In spite of a substantial increase in recent years in the number of call outs to deal with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have the necessary resources and capabilities to meet the current threat. The level of threat is kept under constant review by both An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The PA Consulting Review of the Defence Forces Medical Services was completed in 2009, with implementation of the Review's recommendations progressing. In the context of the commitment in the Programme for Government to implement the Review's recommendation I expect that substantial progress will be made in this regard over the coming months. An important part of the implementation has...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The current strength of 2 Eastern Brigade is 2185 personnel. Table 1 below gives a breakdown of the ranks of the 2185 personnel. Table 2 sets out the number of personnel serving in each of 2 Eastern Brigade's military barracks. For security and operational reasons it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the ranks serving in individual military barracks. TABLE 1 Breakdown of Ranks in 2...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, Apprenticeship Competition, General Service Enlistment or Direct Entry Competitions which are held to fill vacancies in specialist appointments. There are no provisions to permit the enlistment or appointment of retired members of the Reserve Defence Force to fill vacancies in the Cadre Staff or the Permanent...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 to 300, inclusive, together. I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 109 answered on 4 October 2007 which dealt comprehensively with the barracks closed in 1998. By way of update the position with the former Magee Barracks is that following the cancellation of the Affordable Housing Initiative, Kildare County Council have advised the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The number of personnel enlisted and appointed to the Permanent Defence Force in the past two years and to date in 2011 is as follows: General ServiceEnlistment Cadets Direct Entry Appointments(Doctors) Total 2009 0 42 5 47 2010 115 30 0 145 2011 to date 265 0 0 265 I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 30 April, 2011 was 9,658...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am satisfied that the equipment and aircraft available to the Air Corps are of a high standard and maintained in accordance with best practice. The main expenditure in the Air Corps in 2011 relates to the maintenance and Power by the Hours contracts set up to keep the fleet operational. On the issue of Air Corps training and technology, I am satisfied that Air Corps training techniques...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: Following a two-stage tender competition a contract was awarded in October 2010 to Babcock Marine in the UK for the provision of two new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Naval Service. Preparations for the construction of these new vessels have commenced and the first new vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2014. The second vessel will follow one year later. The acquisition of...

Written Answers — Air Corps Strength: Air Corps Strength (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue, (SAR), services within the Irish Search and Rescue region. In accordance with the roles assigned to them by Government in the White Paper on Defence, the Air Corps is committed to providing support to the civil authorities including in relation to Search and Rescue. In this regard, the Air Corps...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ireland is currently contributing 129 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the EU-led operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 44 personnel and the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 12 personnel. Other personnel are serving as...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (24 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The number of cadets commissioned in the Army, Navy and Air Corps in each of the past three years to date in 2011 is as follows: Year Army Naval Service Air Corps Total 2008 32 9 10 51 2009 32 6 7 45 2010 34 7 4 45 2011to date 30 0 2 32 T There are currently 43 Cadets in training - Army 22, Naval Service 18 and Air Corps 3. I am advised that at this time the Defence Forces retain the...

Leaders' Questions (25 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: You have no credibility.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (25 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The optional protocol referred to by the Deputy concerns the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 criminalised the sale of persons, including children, for any purpose. Also, I understand from the Department of Health and Children that the Adoption Act 2010 meets the requirements of the optional protocol. Legislative...