Results 12,021-12,040 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 10, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 36 together, all of which relate to Mali.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will take Question No. 9 separately as it deals with EU battle groups, which has nothing to do with the issue of Mali, as I would have thought the Deputy might know. I addressed the question of possible Defence Forces participation in the EU Training Mission for Mali in answering the priority question earlier. Force generation for the new mission, which was established by the Council of...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: In the context of what I said earlier, we are now past the days when individuals are simply deployed on UN peace missions to train forces without taking what I would describe as a comprehensive approach in dealing with issues relating to the protection of civilians in conflict. The protection of human rights is an essential part of missions because it is now widely recognised that it is very...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I draw the Deputy's attention to what I said earlier, which is that our UN resolution is to provide for a UN mission, which it is, to train the domestic Malian forces so that they are fit for purpose and able to carry out their duties and able to protect that population effectively. It is not the role of Ireland to make decisions or engage in matters that relate to the particular government...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy seems to be of the views that when there is a UN-mandated mission this State should not participate. This State has an honoured tradition of participating in missions of a peacekeeping nature and missions that can contribute to conflict resolution and the protection of civilian life. It is particularly interesting that the Deputy fails to make any reference to the UN mandate. I...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Last week, an interesting conference was held in Dublin. One of the participants at that conference was from the African Union. There is a general recognition that there are great difficulties in Mali and a need to provide assistance there to protect individuals. The Deputy appears to be of the odd view that the European Union is becoming increasingly militarised despite that every...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will be brief. I have no idea why Deputy Boyd Barrett is shouting at me. I am not responsible for all of the conflicts that are taking place in Africa, many of which are tragic. I am merely dealing with the issue raised, which relates to the United Nations resolution that trainers should be provided to the Malian armed forces. As I said previously, we are considering allowing a small...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy proceeds with his ideological diatribe, what he chooses to ignore is the atrocities taking place in northern Mali, which have been well depicted not alone in media articles but starkly on our television screens, including interviews with individuals who are the victims of atrocities and whose limbs were missing. We know that a fundamentalist group claiming to have links with...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am dealing with the question I was asked, which was about Mali. I am dealing with Mali and I will continue to do so. If the Deputy wants to take a tour of every country in the world in which there are human rights issues that need to be addressed, we can do it on another occasion. My remit as Minister for Defence this evening is to deal with the issue raised of whether we will...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----he believes we should stand back and look at and do nothing about while the human misery is perpetrated and continues.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I accept there are such reports which is a concern. This is why trainers may be able to address this. This is the importance of human rights teaching on dealing with people, so civilians are not brought unnecessarily into conflict. This is where the European Union, by participating in a UN mission, can make a positive contribution as opposed to sitting back and watching.

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 30 together. Two invitations have been received by Ireland to participate in future EU battle groups. One invitation has been received to participate in the Nordic battle group 2015, together with Sweden acting as framework nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. The second force generation conference was held in Sweden in early December 2012. The...

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy really does have an awful lot of bogeymen in his head.

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will deal with the only issue of substance the Deputy raised. As part of Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council in 2013 a seminar was organised to discuss and examine how more effective co-operation and the building of partnerships across regional organisations and between these organisations and the United Nations could be fostered. This was undertaken to enhance the effectiveness of UN...

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I do not know whether the Deputy wants me to reply. A wide range of speakers was invited to attend the seminar including from the European Union, the United Nations, the African Union, NATO and academia. Close co-operation between NATO and the United Nations and its agencies is an important element in the development of an international comprehensive approach to crisis management and...

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Like the EU and the African Union, NATO shares a commitment with the United Nations to maintaining international peace and security. The two organisations have been co-operating in this area since the early 1990s, which the Deputy seems to have missed. In view of this, I decided to invite a speaker to provide the discussion with the view from NATO and how it actively enhanced co-operation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Presidency Priorities (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 19 together. Since the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, now conducts the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy assisted by the European External Action Service. T he EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy forms an integral part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Green Paper on Defence (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 37 and 42 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 24 together. On the 7 April 2010, the EU launched a Military Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) in order to contribute to strengthening the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the institutions of Somalia. This support continues to take place within the framework of the EU's comprehensive engagement in Somalia, with a view to responding...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Equitation School (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 38 together. I have no plans to make changes to the operation of the Army Equitation School. The mission of the School is to promote the Irish horse through participation in international competition at the highest level. The Equitation School has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation...