Results 4,541-4,560 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Official Engagements (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for her suggestion I am Head of State, but I have not yet been elevated to that particular post and do not anticipate ever seeking it or being elevated to it. The visit has been specifically arranged to visit and talk to the troops in Camp Shamrock and to get a sense of the situation in the region in the context of the very important work they are doing. I note what the...

Official Engagements (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is obviously unaware that I visited Gaza some three months after the last conflict which took place between Hamas and Israel, that I saw the nature of the difficulties in Gaza and that I am intimately aware of the complexity of the problem. It is a great pity in addressing the issues in the region she sees it all completely in black and white and is not prepared to engage in a...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ireland has participated in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, since its establishment in 1978. UNIFIL's mandate has been extended by the UN Security Council on an annual basis. On 30 August the Security Council extended the current mandate of UNIFIL until 31 August 2012. UNIFIL continues to play a critical role in helping to promote peace and stability in southern...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I agree with the Deputy. We should be proud of what our forces do in Lebanon, as well as of the small contingents of members of the Defence Forces located in other parts of the world that are engaged in peacekeeping and peace support activities. It would be a good idea that there would be greater knowledge within the wider community of what is happening in Lebanon. The welcome visit by...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ireland has offered, through the United Nations standby arrangements system, UNSAS, to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to approximately 10% of Ireland's standing Army, excluding reserves, and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy asks me that question whenever Question Time is on defence matters.

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The position has not changed from the first time I answered the question on the first occasion on which I took defence questions.

National Emergency Plan (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Government task force on emergency planning, which I chair, meets regularly, most recently on 30 June 2011. The next meeting is scheduled for 29 September 2011, which is next week. The task force was established following the 11 September attacks in 2001 and 70 meetings have been held to date. The role of the task force is to support co-ordination of emergency planning across...

National Emergency Plan (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: A number of recommendations were made to the task force arising from the weather events that took place last year and early this year and these are being taken on board. They are cross-departmental recommendations in the sense that they do not specifically apply to the Defence Forces. They require different Departments and local authorities to approach matters in a particular way. I do not...

National Emergency Plan (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can only say to the Deputy that I believe it is important that we properly plan and that we have in place the systems necessary to respond when emergencies arise, but we also have to remember that on occasion emergencies occur that may not have been anticipated and it is necessary to move personnel or vehicles to the location where an event occurs. There may be some timeframe involved or...

Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware of the restrictions on recruitment to the public service generally arising from the necessity to restore balance to the public finances. In the context of this challenge, the Government intends to maintain the operational efficiency of the Defence Forces to the greatest extent possible, as I mentioned earlier. To this end, targeted recruitment was carried out in 2010...

Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I reiterate it is not clear yet how many may retire during the course of this year. I can assure the Deputy that, in so far as retirements do take place, we will ensure that the necessary officers may be appointed to replace anyone who may retire at officer level. In so far as anyone may retire at private level or other levels within the Defence Forces, obviously this is an operational...

Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: In that context, we are of course trying to ensure that, within the defence establishment, we keep within our financial envelope this year and within the restrictions that we have to operate within. There will be some further appointments made before the end of the year where currently there are gaps, but I cannot guarantee to the Deputy that all the gaps will necessarily be filled. There...

Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: In the context of recruitment, it is likely to cover the area of the Naval Service and the Army at this stage. The exact numbers have to be clarified and agreed. I am happy to keep the Deputy informed when decisions are made without the necessity of the Deputy tabling a Dáil question on the matter. I will do the same to facilitate Deputy O'Brien, who is spokesperson for Sinn Féin. It is...

Defence Forces Deployment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The EU training mission, or EUTM as it is known, in Somalia - there is an abbreviated version of every mission that people are engaged in - to train the security forces of the Somali Transitional Federal Government was launched on 7 April 2010 in implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 1872, 2009 and 1910, 2010. These resolutions urge the international community and organisations...

Defence Forces Deployment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Government has been following and responding to the increasingly difficult situation in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region for many months and allocated more than €9 million in emergency assistance. On a per capita basis, Ireland's contribution is one of the most significant responses to the crisis. Funding from Ireland has been used directly by the United Nations, the Red Cross...

Defence Forces Deployment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: We are essentially training troops who, we hope, based on the ethos and principles we bring to the mission, will have a degree of insight in carrying out their duties when they return to Mogadishu. It is hoped this will prove to be a valuable contribution in achieving a degree of stability, but, of course, no one can guarantee this.

Defence Forces Reserve (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, a value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force commenced in February 2010. Significant progress has been made on the review and in the normal course of events I would have expected it to have been completed and that we would be commencing the implementation of the review findings. The Government is fully engaged in making the difficult corrections necessary to...

Defence Forces Reserve (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am keenly aware of the concerns expressed by some of the members of the Reserve Defence Force. I attended the annual meeting and used my time to engage with members of the force and discuss their concerns. I am, of course, aware of the importance of maintaining the Reserve Defence Force and its role will be one of the issues to be addressed in the White Paper. I believe I would have told...

Defence Forces Reserve (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have a figure in my head for the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force, but I do not have the exact figure in the file. I do not want to give a figure to the Deputy without ensuring it is correct. I propose to furnish it to him later. There may be a difference between the formal number of members of the Reserve Defence Force and those who are actively engaged in training with it....