Results 8,541-8,560 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----suggesting, first, that the barracks was to close, which was untrue, and second, that 600 personnel were to be removed from the barracks. When that also turned out to be untrue and I made it clear the barracks would have in or about 1,000 personnel at the end of the re-organisation, he went around telling everyone there were either 1,400 or 1,450 personnel in the barracks. I noticed...

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: This is a complete fabrication. When the current Government took up office on 9 March 2011, there were just over 900 personnel in Custume Barracks.

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: Today, there are 1,050 personnel in Custume Barracks, 34 of whom are currently abroad on duties but who remain attached to Custume Barracks. There are no mythical 350 extra personnel - they feature in Deputy Troy's imagination - and there never have been.

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The practical reality is that, when this re-organisation is implemented, Custume Barracks will end up with approximately 100 more personnel than were there on 9 March 2011.

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I very much welcome the new era of politics in which we are currently engaged. That Sinn Féin is now showing such considerable support for the Defence Forces is a very important and welcome development.

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The monetary savings have been delivered through the reduction in personnel strength and are reflected in the 2012 budget. The provision for the Permanent Defence Force's pay in the Vote 36 Estimates in 2011 was just over €442 million. The corresponding provision for 2012 is €425 million. The re-organisation will absorb the reduction in numbers and improve operational effectiveness....

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: We made very important decisions to protect the numbers in the Defence Forces and we used its establishment to the maximum efficiency and capability. What we are now implementing is the agreed portion of the re-organisation as agreed by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of my Department. As to when we will have the final detail of this, I cannot give an exact date but it will be...

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: When that work is completed, I will be quite happy to make an announcement on it.

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: My understanding is that there was a commitment to prepare a new White Paper in the previous programme for Government. It is also my understanding that the previous Government had no difficulty with initiating a re-organisation of the Permanent Defence Force at that stage to accommodate a strength reduction to 10,000 in advance of that process. The reality was when we came into government,...

Defence Forces Strength (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The priority is the maintenance of the operational capability of the Defence Forces within a reduced resource envelope to underpin the re-organisation. In these circumstances, I cannot understand how it is now suggested that it is necessary to await the publication of the Green Paper and the outcome of any White Paper. The organisational structures that were outmoded at 10,000 are even more...

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, together. The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective in the ongoing defence modernisation programme and has been recommended in many reports over the past number of years. This was a key consideration of the Government in addressing this issue as releasing personnel from security...

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I do not know what Deputy Mattie McGrath is taking but it makes life very interesting when he is in the House.

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The issue of Kickham Barracks and the relocation of Clonmel Garda station is being discussed in the context of the disposal of the barracks. I am conscious of the condition of the Garda station in question.

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: There is a particular problem, however, which is that the Office of Public Works has substantially less funding available to it for the construction of new Garda stations as a consequence of the destruction of our fiscal base-----

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----by the previous Government, a Government for which Deputy Mattie McGrath was happy to vote and of which he was part. Regard has been taken of relocation of the Garda station to the Clonmel barracks. I hope and believe discussions that are taking place on this matter will come to a successful outcome.

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: That interest was a possibility but, unfortunately, those in top management at the particular institution changed. It seems the interest has fallen away. We were hoping something beneficial to the area would come of that. Unfortunately, that interest does not seem to be there. I did say when I mentioned it that I did not want to give rise to any unreal expectations as it was an initial...

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I know there have been discussions about the plaque, which was removed for safe keeping.

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: Officials from the Department are happy to be engaged in discussions and if an appropriate arrangement can be agreed, I would be happy to be of assistance. Some further work needs to be done on the matter. I confirm that among the groups or individuals which have shown an interest in the barracks is the VEC. I understand discussions are ongoing in that context and I am optimistic that there...

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: If a new Garda station is to be built, a substantial capital outlay must be incurred. We must have a state-of-the-art station meeting all the operational necessities of modern policing and we cannot have a jerry-built sticking plaster of a building. I know the Deputy is not suggesting that.

Army Barracks (21 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: There is currently no funding. I could take the Deputy around the country and point out where we need new Garda stations but the funding is not there. We need planning for the process and I will not pretend that the money for it exists, although I wish it did. I wish we had the sort of capital allocations that existed in years gone by as I share the Deputy's view that if we were able to...