Results 7,981-8,000 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----I would suggest he seek to educate himself on what occurred. If he thinks there is any comparison between the dispute he is continuing to maintain in relation to bogs and the death of 6 million people in the Holocaust, perhaps the Deputy will go and examine his conscience.

Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy's comment was a disgrace and he should withdraw it.

Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I ask the Deputy to withdraw the comment he made.

Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Deputy, you are an ignorant buffoon.

Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: It is a pity Deputy Flanagan does not have the decency to apologise before he leaves the House.

Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: It is an analogy the Deputy should withdraw.

Army Barracks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 13 together. Following the Government's decision to further consolidate Defence Forces personnel into fewer locations, four military barracks - Clonmel, Cavan, Mullingar and Castlebar – closed on 30 March 2012. As a result of the closure of the four barracks, there is a need to provide alternative accommodation for the local Reserve Defence Force...

Army Barracks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: As I mentioned to the Deputy, the leases will be signed shortly. I hope and expect that matters relating to all three will be in order by midsummer. I am not aware of any additional allowances that would arise by way of relocation costs. If there is further information on that I will come back to the Deputy. The locations of the rental premises are within a reasonable distance of the...

Army Barracks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: The figure of €100,000 is the total amount for the rental of 40 different premises for the Reserve Defence Force across the country. Existing leases are in place before the additional ones that are being put in place. Agreement has been reached with Mayo County Council for the sale of Castlebar Barracks for the sum of €600,000, with payment to be made in four equal instalments of...

Army Barracks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I very much welcome the development in Castlebar. Officials of my Department have been actively engaged with a broad range of interests regarding the future use of barracks. Ongoing discussions are taking place with regard to the other barracks that have been closed. I do not want to give rise to false hopes by setting timeframes within which progress may be made, but I have some hope and...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 26 together. Arising from the Government's comprehensive review of expenditure, the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force was reduced to 9,500 personnel. In response to this reduced strength ceiling, I initiated a major reorganisation of the Defence Forces, both permanent and reserve. The reorganisation will ensure that, within the...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I will start with the Deputy's last question. I can confirm that there will not be barracks closures based on the reorganisation. With regard to the Deputy's other questions, I do not want to pre-empt or prejudge the outcome of the process that is underway and in which the Secretary General of my Department, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and officials of my Department and supports...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: As a process is now under way, I will not pre-empt or prejudge that process. All I can say to the Deputy is that all issues of relevance will be taken into account as we switch from a three-brigade structure to a two-brigade structure. The operational and capacity issues will be taken into account and how best to deal with a broad range of matters. In regard to Athlone, as a consequence of...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I hope the Deputy understands that if a process is under way with regard to a reorganisation of the Defence Forces, issues of deployment will be part of the issues that are considered within the context of that process. I appreciate that the Deputy is essentially making the case that a brigade headquarters should continue to be based in Athlone. I presume that every Member of this House who...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to circulate a table with the Official Report, which outlines the number of vacancies in the Permanent Defence Force by rank. The number of vacancies, by rank, is based on the employment control framework of 10,000 - all ranks - in the Permanent Defence Force, versus the strength of 8,885 as at 30 April 2012. This is the latest date for which figures are available. As the House...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: In the context of dealing with the general issue, first, part of the process in which we are now engaging is to examine the balance between members of particular ranks and ordinary members of the Defence Forces to ensure there is not a disproportion in the context of those at officer level as compared to enlisted personnel. In the absence of the final report I will receive from the...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Promotions have taken place. In 2011, for example, 138 officers and 219 enlisted personnel were promoted. To date this year, promotions include the appointment of one major general, four brigadier generals, 120 officers and 27 enlisted personnel.

Army Barracks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Since the closure of Magee Barracks in Kildare town and particularly in recent years, the site has fallen into disrepair and all buildings have been severely vandalised. It has also been the focus of anti-social behaviour. My Department has continued, where necessary, to take additional security measures to secure and protect the site. In cases where local residents have notified my...

Cyber Attacks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, is devising a national cyber security policy aimed at protecting economic infrastructure and informing and assisting citizens in this regard. I understand his Department is also preparing an awareness campaign focused on cyber security and aimed at individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, the education...

Cyber Attacks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Two members of the Defence Forces and two members of An Garda Síochána with expertise in this area are part of a committee which is led by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This is an issue I raised very soon after my ministerial appointment. As chairman of the Government task force on emergency planning, I have briefed the committee on issues relating to...