Results 10,361-10,380 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The recommendations in the report encompass all aspects of the Reserve, including future roles for the Reserve. There is no suggestion that the Reserve will be abolished. I can give assurances in that regard. The Deputy must appreciate that it would be premature of me to engage in discussions at this point, pending completion of the VFM process which deals with recommendations and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: There is a real difference between the establishment figures of the Reserve and the actual figures. The Army Reserve establishment is 9,292 and the effective strength is 4,293, although not all of those are engaging in the training days made available to them. The Naval Service Reserve projected establishment is 400 and the real figure is 180. Therefore, the effective strength of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Since the announcement of the Government decision on barrack closures in November 2011, the Department of Defence has written to each Government Department and various agencies and local authorities seeking expressions of interest in acquiring any of the properties to benefit the local community. In this regard, there have been discussions between officials from the Department and a number...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy knows the Government he supported in this House for many years left the gardaí in the circumstances and conditions he is referring to. At a time when the Government he supported was flaithiúlach with money, it did not provide the funding needed to provide the Garda station.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am sorry if the truth gets in the way of the fiction the Deputy likes to constantly perpetrate in this Chamber. The reality is that he supported a Government for years that failed to provide the new Garda station that was needed so let us not make a big thing about it here today as if it is newly discovered.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: We are looking at the possibility of providing a Garda facility within the confines of the barracks. It is an issue that does not just involve my Department. It also involves the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for constructing Garda stations and acquiring sites for them. As the Deputy knows well, this property is owned by the Department of Defence and, as was the case with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy should give serious consideration to applying to participate in the Kilkenny comedy weekend which is run on an annualised basis.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am sure he would be a star turn.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy seemed to miss, the Office of Public Works has responsibility for Garda stations. If the funding must be provided, it will come from the OPW and resources must be identified. I know the Deputy finds it difficult to make the connection between the provision of a Garda station and identifying the funding necessary to provide it, but that is the reality and it is an issue to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The primary role of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, which is provided for in the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004, is to provide an independent appeals process for members of the Defence Forces. Such appeals arise where a complaint has been processed through the internal Defence Forces “redress of wrongs” process but the member remains dissatisfied with the outcome or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces have a full-time Minister for Defence. As has been my practice for about 30 years, I do two days work in one day by starting at 5 a.m. and finishing some time between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. When I was in opposition, that allowed me to continue to work as a solicitor and it now facilitates my being able to deal with defence issues in a very effective and hands on way. I am...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I suppose it would not have happened if reforms had not been introduced. The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is independent. It is for members of the military in circumstances where they believe they have been wronged to complain to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, and they are free and able to do that. I thought the Deputy would have welcomed that there are fewer...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----in which they are engaged should be dealt with less efficiency to give more work to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I do not believe that is the case. Incidentally the Deputy might be interested to know that the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces makes recommendations to the Minister and the Minister must decide whether to accept or reject them. Owing to the impact on members of the Defence Forces it was always my view that when a recommendation is received from the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Should I give the reply for the record of the House?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Is it in order that we give Deputy Donnelly a written reply on that matter? I am agreeable to doing that if it facilitates him.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Unless there is some procedural difficulty, I am happy that he gets a written reply.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 14 and 20 together. Again we are coming back to the issue Deputy Ó Fearghaíl raised earlier. I am sure Members will not be surprised to hear me say that I absolutely reject the claim of the former president of PDFORRA. The Government remains committed to maintaining the capacity and capability of the Defence Forces to undertake the roles...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am not aware that a large number of skilled personnel are actively disengaging from the Defence Forces. There has been no evidence to this effect since the announcement of the reorganisation. Retirement from the Defence Forces exceeded 500 in the first two months of this year. However, this derived from the facility available under the public service arrangements put in place to enable...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: We have moved a wonderful distance in this country. I do not mean that sarcastically. It is particularly interesting and important that Sinn Féin are concerned about the future of the Defence Forces and its operational capacity. For a long time Sinn Féin Party members did not recognise - at least their predecessors did not - the Defence Forces and often saw some of them as...