Results 4,521-4,540 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Following the submission in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, it was decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from An Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this and the CSO has established a...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets Bureau: Criminal Assets Bureau (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together. In accordance with the provisions of section 21 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 an annual report on the activities of the Bureau is prepared and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The most recently published annual report is that for the year 2009. At present arrangements are being made to make available the report for...

Written Answers — Commissioners for Oaths: Commissioners for Oaths (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that as Minister I have no function in the appointment of Commissioners for Oaths which is entirely a matter for the Chief Justice. However, the Courts Service has assured me that they would be happy to assist the Deputy with his enquiries.End of Take Section WRV follows.

Written Answers — Gaming Regulation: Gaming Regulation (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will see from the Government Legislative Programme for the Autumn 2011 Session that a new Gambling Bill is being prepared. It will provide for the licensing of online services as part of a major reform of the gambling laws. The collection of taxes in this area, as in all others. is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. However, I think their task will be eased when all...

Written Answers — Gaming Regulation: Gaming Regulation (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The hearings to which the Deputy refers are being conducted by the Alderney Gaming Control Commission (AGCC). They are part of on-going legal processes in the Channel Islands (Alderney) following the decision by the AGCC to suspend the gaming licence for the company concerned. Legal proceedings are also underway in the USA. I am keeping in touch with developments, but, in light of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As I understand the Deputy is specifically referring to translation costs for the year 2010 incurred by my Department and the agencies under its aegis, I can confirm that the total amount spent was €45,916.11.

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 427 together. On 16 May 2011 I wrote to the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross Society regarding corporate governance, with particular reference to turnover and rotation at leadership levels in the Society. I did so as I am of the opinion that it is not conducive to good corporate governance that any individual should serve indefinitely on the Central...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 426 together. On 16 May 2011 I wrote to the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross Society regarding corporate governance, emphasising my views on turnover and rotation at leadership levels in the Society. The Chairman, in his response, advised me that the issue of turnover and rotation at leadership levels was raised by him at a subsequent Central Council...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: It is my intention to fill this vacancy before the next Central Council meeting which I understand is scheduled to take place in November.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (20 Sep 2011)

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 Board was established in 2003 under the Civil Defence Act 2002. The Act 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. The current Board was...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The costs of translating reports into Irish for the year 2010, in order to implement the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 2003, were as follows: Report Cost (incl VAT) Department of Defence and Defence Forces Annual Report 2009 €1,510.53 Coiste an Asgard Directors Report and Accounts 2009 €302.00 Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2009 €2,607.00

Defence Forces Strength (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 August 2011, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,513 comprising 7,722 Army, 786 Air Corps and 1,005 Naval Service personnel. The approved employment control framework for the Permanent Defence Force is based on a figure of 10,000 all ranks, appropriately configured across the...

Defence Forces Strength (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputy Calleary for his comments on the comprehensive report, published by the Department and prepared by Mr. Frank Callinan SC, into the tragic deaths in 1989 of the three soldiers mentioned. I certainly agree that it is appropriate that we would debate that report at some point in this House, and the Whips can make the appropriate arrangements. I hope the comprehensive inquiry...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The military authorities have reported that the numbers of personnel discharged from the Permanent Defence Force on medical grounds in each year since and including 2008 are as follows: in 2008 some 19 enlisted personnel were discharged; in 2009, two officers and 42 enlisted personnel were discharged; in 2010, one officer and 33 enlisted personnel were discharged; and to date in 2011, one...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual cases. I am not familiar with the case to which the Deputy is referring. When a decision is made with regard to someone's capacity or fitness to continue within the Defence Forces there is a provision that an appeal may be made to the medical director with regard to decisions made. I do not know the reason why in the...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy passes on the details to me I will have an inquiry made into the matter. Having said that I cannot make any promises and I do not wish to give unrealistic expectations. There may be good reasons the decision was made.

Naval Service Operations (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Naval Service has powers to unilaterally intervene at sea. Under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, the Naval Service is empowered to board and inspect vessels and their cargos and, when necessary, to formally detain vessels and direct them to port. Fishing vessels detained by the Naval Service at sea are handed over at a port to An Garda Síochána for arrest. The...

Naval Service Operations (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Naturally the Naval Service has a particular role to assist the civil powers and the role that the Naval Service plays is important. As far as I am aware there is no costing whereby the Naval Service seeks to recover what could be designated as an expense incurred by it in these activities. This is part of the role the Naval Service plays in serving the State and it carries out important...

Naval Service Operations (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I should say fishing vessels not naval vessels. We have not yet detained a submarine or a cruiser coming from any particular location. There are eight Spanish fishing vessels on the list, nine were from the United Kingdom, five were French and one was Belgian. During the period between 2009 and 2011 up to the end of August, there were a total of 34 separate vessels listed.

Official Engagements (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am pleased to inform the House that I will make my first visit to Irish troops serving overseas when I will accompany President McAleese on her official visit to Lebanon next month. The programme for the proposed visit which is being arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will include a visit to Camp Shamrock, the headquarters of the 104th Irish Battalion deployed with the...