Results 12,001-12,020 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Promissory Notes: Statements (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is making a disgrace to this House.

Promissory Notes: Statements (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: This is not the Gaiety Theatre. He is making a disgrace of the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Remuneration for the Permanent Defence Force in 2012 amounted to €459.76 million. This consisted of €424.76 million on pay and €35 million on allowances. An additional €3.5 million in remuneration for the Reserve Defence Force was also expended in 2012. As the Deputy is aware, talks on an extension to the Public Service Agreement 2010–2014 began last...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I give the Deputy every assurance that I have great respect for the fantastic achievements in recent years made within the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces in the areas of modernisation, effecting change and effecting substantial cost savings, which are evident right across the board. The Department of Defence is a model for public service reform that could well be replicated in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The matter is being approached in a particular manner, in the context of Departments being requested to achieve certain savings. The outcome of the discussions with regard to the individual Departments and the direct negotiations that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is engaged in must be awaited.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: In regard to the total amount allocated to the Reserve Defence Force each year from 2005 to 2012, I propose to circulate a tabular statement setting out the information requested. With regard to the future of the Reserve Defence Force, the Deputy will be aware that a major re-organisation is currently underway. This re-organisation is a key element of the response to the findings and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The reduction in the allocation to the Reserve Defence Force over the period in question was addressed in the value for money report. The key variable in determining the level of training costs over the period 2006 to 2009, for example, was the uptake of both paid and unpaid training by members of the Reserve. As the uptake of training was on a voluntary basis, associated costs were demand...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: On 17 January 2013, the Council of the European Union established the European Union training mission, EUTM Mali, which will provide military training and advice to the Malian armed forces to improve their military capacity and their effectiveness in guaranteeing the country's territorial integrity. Training will also be provided in international humanitarian law and the protection of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy has an extraordinary view of the world. Anyone who watched what happened in Mali, particularly northern Mali, where barbaric atrocities were carried out on the local people, people were herded into stadiums with their arms chopped off and women were made to cover their heads, threatened and not allowed to engage in normal life, would recognise that there was a major problem in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I presume the Deputy regarded the chopping off of people's arms as an appropriate thing to continue happening, which is what would have happened without the French intervention.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Policy (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am of the view that the preparation for a new White Paper on Defence will benefit greatly from an informed and wide-ranging debate on Ireland’s defence policy. To that end I decided to initiate the preparation of a Green Paper on Defence. When published, the Green Paper will initiate and inform a broad consultative process as part of the development of a new White Paper. A draft...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Policy (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As far as I recollect there are no powers the Minister of Defence has normally of which I have been relieved. On the assumption that I remain sane, I assure the Deputy that I have no intention of posing any threat to the State by virtue of my being in this unusual position of being Minister for Defence and Minister for Justice and Equality. The two Departments are entirely separate but in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Policy (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: My recollection is that a ministerial colleague from one of the smaller EU states holds both portfolios. I will inform the Deputy in writing. I am thinking of two states and I do not want to be mistaken. I note with interest that the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Niall Collins, keeps complaining that we recruited 600 new members of the Defence Forces during 2012. It seems to be a regular...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Naval Service plays a vital role in the State's fight against drug smuggling as a member of the joint task force on drug interdiction, together with the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána. While the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention of drug smuggling, and responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I agree with everything Deputy Mac Lochlainn says. The Naval Service is an outstanding arm of the Defence Forces and Flag Officer Mark Mellett is doing a fantastic job. There is their linkage with the private sector in seeking to participate in developments that would be of use to the Naval Service and which may result in products being created which could provide job creation opportunities....

Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 18 together. Since 1998 a total of 14 barracks have been closed under various barrack consolidation programmes. To date, nine of these barracks, Clancy in Dublin, Castleblaney, Ballincollig, Fermoy, Naas, Monaghan, Cavan, Castlebar and a large portion of Longford, have been sold. On the remaining barracks, agreement has been reached for the sale of...

Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I would be an enthusiast for the disposal of both barracks if there was an appropriate proposal made in that regard. There has been a long history of engagement with State agencies on Magee Barracks since its closure in 1998. In 1999, at the request of the then Department of Foreign Affairs, part of the site was made available for use as a temporary accommodation for some 265 Kosovar...

Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is an important site with significant potential. It is unfortunate that its potential has not been realised more actively. Since I have become Minister, my Department has done everything possible with regard to the various vacant sites by circulating State agencies and Departments and making it known that sites are available. The site in Kildare has been vacant for a long time. Deputy...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 25 together. The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, keep the threat level...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Of course, I can give the Deputy that assurance.