Results 10,461-10,480 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battlegroups (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Ireland is currently participating in the Austro-German led Battlegroup, which will be on stand-by until 31 December 2012. In 2010, the then Government approved Ireland’s participation in this Battlegroup. The other members of the Austro-German Battlegroup are Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Our contribution is a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Paper on Defence (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The White Paper on Defence has provided the policy framework and development strategy for Defence since 2000. The planning certainty arising from the policy provisions of the current White Paper underpinned the modernisation process within the Defence Organisation. It also afforded the requisite flexibility to develop appropriate capabilities in response to changes in the defence and security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 32 and 168 together. Ireland has offered, through the United Nations Stand-by Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Ombudsman (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 31 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Expenditure (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The depth and gravity of the current economic difficulties means that all areas of the public sector must deliver greater efficiencies and operate within a reduced resource envelope. All elements of Defence expenditure have been critically reviewed in order to deliver the required savings. Some of the measures to reduce costs in the past three years have included reductions in the number...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The involvement of the Defence Forces in responding to emergencies or security issues arises from requests for assistance from An Garda Síochána (as aid to the civil power) or from other agencies of the State (as aid to civil authority). In relation to security, primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. However, one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 23, 25, 35, 164 and 165 together. The current reorganisation of the Defence Forces was in response to the Government decision to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. At this revised strength ceiling, the existing organisational structures that had been in place for a strength ceiling of 11,500 personnel were no longer...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Council Meetings (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: During each European Union Presidency both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held. There is no separate Defence Ministers’ Council within the EU Council of Ministers. However, twice a year - once during each Presidency - Defence Ministers attend the formal Foreign Affairs Council. These Council meetings are held in Brussels or Luxembourg at the invitation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am not in a position at the present time to outline what financial supports will be available to members of the Reserve into the future. You will appreciate that although the Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force has been submitted to me, the responses to the recommendations contained in that report are currently being developed. Until this process has been finalised, it would...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Allowances (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has already undertaken a review of allowances and premium payments across the public sector and proposals were brought to Government for decision. Further to this, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published the results of this review of allowances and the outcome of the Government decision on its website at...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces are primarily deployed on overseas missions in support of international peace and security under UN mandates. On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. There are fourteen UN Security Council...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Drug Smuggling (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 26 together. The Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention of drug smuggling into the country and responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. However, the White Paper on Defence (2000) provides for a security role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Archives (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Military Service Pensions Archive project is a cornerstone of the Government Centenary Programme. Approximately 300,000 files relating to the period from Easter Week, 1916, through the War of Independence and Civil War comprise this collection. The files relate mainly to applications by individuals and/or their dependants for the award of pension and gratuities for veterans who served...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces receive an extensive number of requests each year from individuals, organisations and from Government Departments and Agencies to deploy personnel to civilian events. These events range from a local charity organisation, where a handful of personnel might provide a Military display, to a national event such as the annual National Day of Commemoration where the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE), the Government stablised the strength ceiling of the PDF at 9,500 personnel. A major re-organisation of the PDF was initiated which will entail a reduction in the number of Army Brigades from three to two. As part of this re-organisation the number of PDF personnel (known as PDF Cadre) available to work full-time with the Army...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battlegroups (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Ireland is currently participating in the Austro-German led Battlegroup, which will be on stand-by until 31 December 2012. In 2010, the then Government approved Ireland's participation in this Battlegroup. The other members of the Austro-German Battlegroup are Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Our contribution is a Reconnaissance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Five (5) members of the Permanent Defence Force are deployed in Syria as part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO). The Defence Forces have participated in UNTSO since 1958. Defence Forces personnel serving with this mission are based in Syria, Israel and Lebanon. The 5 Defence Forces personnel based in Syria are part of Observer Group Golan (OGG) responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Registration Authority (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established on 4 November 2006 under the provisions of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006 and is responsible for managing and controlling the Registry of Deeds and the Land Registry. The Registry of Deeds is located in the Registry of Deeds Building, Kings Inns, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1 and the number of staff located there is 28. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service has informed me that there continues to be a significant number of enquiries from potential applicants and their representatives for both programmes. To date, three applications for the Immigrant Investor Programme have been received as well as eighteen applications for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme. On foot of the recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulatory Authority (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Property Services Regulatory Authority was established on the 3rd of April 2012 under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 to regulate, control and supervise property services providers (i.e. auctioneers/estate agents, letting agents and property management agents) and to establish and enforce standards within the property services industry. A new licensing regime has been...