Results 17,361-17,380 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Strength (6 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The attached table contains the strength, of the Air Corps by rank for each of the years 2009 to 2013. I wish to advise the Deputy that the strength figures for the period 2009 - 2012 include personnel who were on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. The 31 December 2013 strength figures have been calculated on the basis of actual numbers serving on that...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (6 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 December 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,236, comprising 7,434 Army, 779 Air Corps and 1,023 Naval Service personnel. This is against the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500. No specific weaknesses have been brought to my attention. I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (6 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible. Primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order including the protection of the internal security of the State rests with An Garda Síochána. However, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (6 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The attached tables contain the strength of Women in the Permanent Defence Force, broken down into Army, Air Corps and Naval Service for each of the years 2009 to 2013. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. Unlike many other national...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Strength (6 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The attached table at Annex A outlines the total number of promotions, male and female, at all ranks that have taken place within the Naval Service within the past three years to date as advised by the Military Authorities. Please note that the 2012 figures have been updated and differ slightly from those given in reply to Question Number 419 of 18 June 2013. A number of promotions are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Equipment (6 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am advised that there are a total of 27 aircraft operating from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. Of this total, 3 aircraft are operated by the Air Corps for An Garda Siochana related activities, namely two EC 135 Helicopters and 1 Fixed Wing Defender 4000 aircraft. The remaining 24 aircraft, 16 Fixed Wing and 8 Rotary, are available to the Air Corps. The sixteen Fixed Wing aircraft are made...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (6 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am satisfied that both the Air Corps and Naval Service have the necessary resources to meet their operational requirements in this important area. Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, including the establishment in 1993 of a Joint Task Force involving An Garda Síochána, the Customs Service and the Naval Service, have helped to maximise the...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I would like to begin by emphasising the important public role played by An Garda Síochána as the police force in this State and by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, as the independent body with the important remit of investigating allegations of police misconduct. Each is a crucial pillar in our constitutional democracy and each plays a vital role in the...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I understand that no connection between any member of An Garda Síochána with any of these matters arose. This is not my conclusion - it is that of GSOC. It would, of course, be a matter of the gravest concern if GSOC were, in fact, subject to surveillance from any quarter and I am sure the House will welcome the fact that, notwithstanding the conclusions of its investigation, it...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I thank those who said something constructive and those who made other sorts of contributions to which I will refer. I am interested in one thing only, the truth of the issues that arose, whether GSOC was bugged. It would be completely unacceptable for any surveillance to be conducted on its offices. I have the height of respect for GSOC...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: He is being disingenuous. Ten days ago, before this controversy developed, I announced that we intended to amend the GSOC legislation and that I would bring proposals to Government in that regard. In its reports GSOC has indicated some issues it wishes addressed. That legislation will be brought to Government at some point during the course of this year and will come before the House. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The age at which candidates may apply to join the Garda Síochána as a full time member is set by regulation 4 (a) of the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 which states as follows:-4. Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, a person is eligible to apply for admission as a trainee where, on the closing date specified in the advertisement...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that they are at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Kerb has been in operation in the Bridewell Garda Sub-District since November 2010. The operation primarily focuses on the diversion of women who are engaged in street based prostitution in the area referred to and the prosecution of persons who solicit for the purpose of prostitution. An Garda Síochána engage as appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As part of the measures which are coordinated under Operation Fiacla, Operation Acer commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) in March 2012. The operation is in force throughout the DMR including the areas referred to by the Deputy, and has resulted in a reduction in the number of burglaries in those areas. Operation Acer is an intelligence driven operation and includes analysis...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 417 together. As the Deputy will be aware civil legal aid is provided by the Legal Aid Board in accordance with the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as amended. In November 2011, the Board's remit was widened to include the Family Mediation Service (FMS), which had previously come under the auspices of the Family Support Agency. The Board's funding is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means. Under the Act, the grant of legal aid entitles the applicant to the services of a solicitor and, in certain circumstances, up to two counsel, in the preparation and conduct of their defence or appeal. The granting of aid is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Compensation Awards (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted Tribunal members are entirely independent in the matter of individual applications that fall to be considered by them. I am informed by the Tribunal that this case has not been finalised to-date for reasons beyond their control but I am not in a position to provide further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 419 to 426, inclusive, 429 to 431, inclusive, and 434 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In this context I am informed by the Garda authorities that the direct costs of running the Dundalk District and the Louth Division from 2008 to 2013 are outlined in the table below. I also understand that certain further Garda expenditure arose in relation to the...