Results 15,001-15,020 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows. Private Office Minister for Defence June 2013 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 PPC scale €30,516 - €47,975 (includes long service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Exchequer Savings (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have not appointed any special advisers in my role as Minister for Defence. I have engaged the services of a personal assistant who assists me in constituency matters. The annual salary attached to this post is €56,060 which is below the first point of the Principal pay scale.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The following table sets out the number of women serving in the Permanent Defence Force at 31 December for each of the years 2008 to 2012, and at 30 June 2013, the latest date for which figures are available. These figures show that at 30 June 2013 there were a total of 561 women serving in the Permanent Defence Force, a figure which equates to 6.17% of the overall strength of the Permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 to 603, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is not easily accessible through the Defence Forces Personnel Management System and would require a significant and unjustifiable level of effort to compile.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The following table sets out the number of men and women serving in the Army at 31 December for each of the years 2010 to 2012 and the Army Reserve at 31 December in years 2010 and 2011. I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Army at 30 June 2013, the latest date for which figures are available, was 7,307, comprising 6,841 men and 466 women. With regard to the Army...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: Ireland is currently contributing 449 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Ireland’s main deployment is in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with smaller contributions in Kosovo, Bosnia Herzegovina, Afghanistan, EUTM Mali and EUTM Somalia. The total number of Defence Forces personnel, Army, Navy and Air Corps, male and female,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Expenditure (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Department and the Defence Forces, similar to all other Government Departments, must take into account the current difficult economic environment we are now operating in. The budgetary situation will continue to dictate the level of funding available for the development and maintenance of military installations and the purchase and upgrading of equipment. Decisions will be made...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 608 together. I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Defence Forces, including, training, equipment and up to date technology, enables the Defence Forces to carry out their roles both at home and overseas. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a focus for me as Minister for Defence and is a matter that...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Programme for Government 2011-2016 includes a commitment to take steps to ensure that all State Boards have at least 40 per cent of each gender. My Department reviews the gender balance of State boards under its auspices and returns are made annually to the Department of Justice and Equality which has a coordinating role in this regard. Prior to the Government taking office, the return...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: An Dara Céim - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: In the commercial field, to take one example, the scope and complexity of transactions and the speed with which they can be effected could barely have been imagined until recently. In the commercial field, litigation has mushroomed. A mile down-river from the Four Courts is the International Financial Services Centre, IFSC, home to banks and financial institutions from around the globe and...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: An Dara Céim - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank all those who spoke and for the support expressed by the overwhelming majority of Senators for this Bill. I was very pleased to hear what Senator O'Brien had to say, which mirrored what his colleague in the Dáil said. I hope we will actively engage both within the political parties and those who are Independent in seeking support for this measure. I am not sanguine about the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: An Dara Céim - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: All of us know that as politicians we can make speeches and discuss the reason this is in the public interest but if the broadcast media go deaf and do not report any of it, and if the print media ignore it, communicating a message becomes extraordinarily difficult. People get so much material put through their letterboxes these days that the traditional way of informing people by leafleting...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: An Dara Céim - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----but I think it is preferable. I have no ambition to be a member of the Supreme Court either.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: An Dara Céim - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is a good idea that we have that level of transparency. I was asked why we need a referendum. We need a referendum so that the people can make a decision. Our Constitution presently provides that appeals go from the High Court to the Supreme Court. If we are going to put a new legal architecture in place, it is important for the people to be given an opportunity to express their views...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can only say that I am overwhelmed with all the love. I think we should have the last day of sittings every day. I thank Senators for their kind comments and I wish all Senators some relaxation as we head into the summer break. With other matters coming down the track, I am conscious that many of them will be very engaged, but I urge people to take some time out. The one thing I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Haddington Road Agreement Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Haddington Road Agreement does not affect retired members of the Garda Síochána in any different manner than it affects any other retired public servant. A reduction in public service pensions was legislated for as part of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, and took effect on 1 July 2013.  It is important to note that public service pensions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (18 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 980 and 989 together. I can assure the Deputies that I do appreciate the concerns of both retailers and consumers with regard to the issue of on-line and credit card fraud and the prevalence of such activity. In the context of our criminal law enforcement efforts to combat fraudulent activity these particular forms of fraud feature prominently, both...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (18 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 981, 983 and 984 together. The Government's focus is to maximise to the greatest possible extent the potential of the Common Travel Area. This is evidenced by the visa waiver programme for holders of certain categories of UK visa, which this Government introduced in July 2011. In the twelve months following the introduction of the programme, visits from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Sign Language (18 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 982, 987 and 1066 together. As the Deputies will be aware one of the commitments in the Programme for Government is to "examine different mechanisms to promote the recognition of Irish Sign Language". This process has already commenced. At my request the National Disability Authority (NDA) facilitated consultations with the Deaf Society in Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The laws governing entitlement to Irish citizenship are specified in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Where a person is not born in the island of Ireland, they may have an entitlement to Irish citizenship if they are of Irish descent and certain requirements are satisfied. Persons with an entitlement to Irish citizenship can make an application for an Irish passport...