Results 6,621-6,640 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Naval Service Operations (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I join with both Deputies in acknowledging the extraordinary work following the dreadful tragedy that occurred in Glandore. I refer not just to the work of the Naval Service but of all those individuals and agencies which have been engaged in dealing with a tragedy which we all wish had not happened. To reply to the Deputy's question, the particular visits or voyages serve a range of...

Overseas Missions (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, is the world's largest regional security organisation comprised of 56 states from Europe, Central Asia and North America. The OSCE offers a forum for political negotiations and decision-making in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. It puts the political will of...

Overseas Missions (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I do not have the figure for the exact budgetary amount but from what I recollect it is extremely modest. I will give the Deputy the exact figure. Clearly some members of the Defence Forces are playing a role that arises because we have the chairmanship. The numbers may change when we get to 2013. The numbers I have supplied to the Deputy relate to operations this year. He may see in one...

EU Presidency (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The preparations for the upcoming Irish Presidency of the EU Council in 2013 have been under way since mid-2010. The Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade are the lead Departments in planning for the Presidency. Two interdepartmental committees have been established. The interdepartmental committee for co-ordinating the Presidency, chaired by the Minister of State,...

EU Presidency (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The justice side is somewhat different to the defence side because of the role of the EU representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton. I do not wish to comment on it in advance of engaging with her on the agenda. We have particular issues on which we do want to focus which we regard as of importance and to which we believe we can make a contribution. I...

Departmental Staff (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 24 together. Since 9 March 2011, a total of six civil servants in my Department have availed of early retirement. To date, a further four civil servants have formally indicated their intention to avail of early retirement before 29 February 2012. The Government's National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 sets out revised ceilings for public service staff...

Departmental Staff (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: Happily, we are probably one of the few Departments-----

Departmental Staff (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----that are in such circumstances. In the context of the Defence Forces, because of the careful accounting within the Department and the efficiencies within the Defence Forces we will be in a position to proceed with further recruitment also as we go through the year so that we maintain the numbers. I accept the Deputy was asking about the Department rather than the Defence Forces but...

Army Barracks (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware Custume Barracks, Athlone is the headquarters of the 4th Western Brigade. The barracks continues to function as an operational military installation and will shortly provide accommodation for personnel relocating from O'Neill Barracks, Cavan and Columb Barracks, Mullingar following their closure at the end of March. There are no plans of any nature to close Custume...

Army Barracks (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The arrangements in respect of that matter are at an advanced stage of discussion between officials in the Department of Defence and in the Department of Health. I hope we will be able to make an announcement about the matter in the not too distant future.

Defence Forces Ombudsman (8 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I assume the Deputy is referring to the annual report of the Ombudsman in respect of 2010, which was laid before each House of the Oireachtas on 21 June 2011. The annual report showed a welcome drop in the number of complaints lodged with the Ombudsman, down from 229 in 2008 to 116 in 2010. One of the issues raised by the Ombudsman in her report was the delay during 2010 in responding to the...

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...