Results 9,321-9,340 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy with regard to the Private Office of the Minister for Defence is as follows: Grade/Position No. Current Salary Scale Higher Executive Officer 1 Higher Executive Officer standard scale €43,816 - €55,415 (includes long service increments) Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer standard scale €29,024 - €45,616 (includes...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Consultancy Contracts (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by my Department since February 2011 is set out in the table that follows this reply. My Department is always mindful of the costs involved in engaging consultants. External consultants are engaged only when there is a clear need for specialised expertise and following a rigorous...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Transport (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: In accordance with the Government Decision of 15 March 2011, I retain a State car and Garda drivers in my capacity as the Minister for Justice and Equality. The cost of this service is funded from the Vote for an Garda Síochána. Following on from that Government decision, the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Defence, Paul Kehoe T.D., has...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reports (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: Neither I nor my Department have commissioned any external reports since February 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks Closures (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: While the reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Force means that units will be moved among existing locations, it maintains, as far as possible, the existing organisational strengths within the current locations. Prior to the announcement of the reorganisation, the Defence Forces Training Centre, including DFHQ and Special Establishments which are attached to the Curragh Barracks, had a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Labour Court Recommendations (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: There are no Labour Court recommendations in respect of my Department and its agencies that have not been complied with in full.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Numbers (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: Recruitment to my Department is carried out by the Public Appointments Service having regard to the required qualifications and competencies that best match the needs of the post. The Civil Service is an equal opportunities employer. I understand that all recruitment campaigns are conducted in strict compliance with the Codes of Practice set out by the Commission for Public Service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Training (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The expenditure on staff education and training was €107,273.15 in 2011 and €62,054.54 to 31 August 2012. These figures represent total expenditure by the Department on training and education, including amounts paid under the Refund of Fees Scheme. This Scheme provides funding to staff members to undertake third level studies outside of normal working hours. Details of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Review (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: A Value for Money Review (VFM) of the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing and the recommendations arising from this review will inform future plans for the Reserve. These recommendations must ensure that RDF organisational structures dovetail with revised PDF structures and have regard to the reduced availability of full time PDF support personnel. The Steering Committee, established to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: A Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing and the Steering Committee, established to oversee the VFM Review of the Reserve, met most recently on 12 September. I understand that the Steering Committee are working towards completing the report by the end of this month. No decisions have been made regarding the future development of the Reserve pending my receipt and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Appointments to State Boards (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1335 and 1337 together. The State Boards under the aegis of my Department are the Army Pensions Board, the Civil Defence Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The number and percentage of women and men on these Boards in each of the past ten years is set out below. Civil Defence Board Year Total Number of Board Members Number of Male Members Number...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Government has decided to accept my recommendation that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force will be maintained at 9,500. I believe that this is the optimum strength required to fulfil all roles currently assigned by Government. The Military Authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 August 2012, the latest date for which details are available,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Ambulance Service Provision (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: A twelve-month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service was established by agreement between my Department and the Department of Health in support of the Health Service Executive National Ambulance Service. The purpose of the pilot is to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated EAS needed to support the National Ambulance Service in the west of Ireland for certain types of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: No land has been acquired by my Department for use in the Capital Programme in the years in question.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (19 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Director General that the recently published the Irish Prison Service 3 year Strategic Plan contains a commitment to develop a number of specific strategies for certain categories of prisoners including women offenders. Work is in progress to develop a strategic action plan targeted at meeting the specific needs of female offenders. The two agencies involved, the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (19 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The examination referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. Since the response to the Deputy of 20 June, the Minister was informed that further potential lines of enquiry have been identified on foot of information brought to the attention of the Garda authorities and that these are now being progressed to a conclusion. As the Minister has indicated previously, upon receipt of a final report from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (19 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that under the Irish Constitution judges are appointed by the President on the advice of the Government. Such appointments are dealt with by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board which was established pursuant to the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995. Under section 16 of the Act, where a judicial office stands vacant or before a vacancy in a judicial office...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (19 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Lisbrook direct provision accommodation centre in Galway is part of RIA's portfolio of direct provision accommodation. RIA made a decision to close the Lisbrook accommodation centre on the expiry of its 18...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (19 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: As of the 31 July 2012 there were 13,547 members of the Garda Síochána, along with 911 Reserve Gardaí and over 2,000 civilian staff. As the Deputy will be aware, public expenditure must be reduced to a sustainable level. This means, among other things, reducing expenditure on public service pay, whether by reducing headcount or otherwise. This is particularly so in those...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penal Policy Review Group (19 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: You may be aware that the establishment of a working group to conduct a strategic review of penal policy has just been announced. The establishment of this group is in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group which published its Report last year. The Thornton Group recommended that an all encompassing strategic review of penal policy should be carried out....