Results 18,241-18,260 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: In order to be eligible for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force as a general service recruit, applicants must meet all of the specified criteria and standards for entry as laid down in Defence Force regulations and the associated administrative instructions. In this regard, paragraph 131 of Administrative Instruction A9 provides that "Tattooing above the collar of the shirt is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I understand our Defence Forces are not in any way unique in this area. A number of armies, including the British, Australian and US armies, have a similar rule. I note what the Deputy said and I will look into the matter further. I am not familiar with the individual mentioned by the Deputy. I will make inquiries with the Defence Forces along the lines raised by the Deputy and I will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy has a letter he is very welcome to furnish it either directly to me or to my private secretary. He can simply pass on the letter with a compliment slip. There is no need for a covering letter, other than just to confirm it is from the Deputy, and I will revert to him after I have furnished it to the Defence Forces and sought an appropriate response.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is aware, arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, at 9,500 personnel. Following that decision it was decided that it was not viable to retain a three-brigade structure within a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel. A major reorganisation encompassing a reduction in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: In the context of the Defence Forces and the difficult financial circumstances that have afflicted the State as a result of the total economic and fiscal ineptitude of the Deputy's own party in government, the Defence Forces have been doing an extraordinary job. The reorganisation was necessary in order to ensure the Defence Forces were organised in a manner that reflected the objective...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: There are no practical day-to-day difficulties of which I am aware. The Defence Forces have managed during my period in office to come in annually on budget in accordance with the Estimates prescribed for them. I am sorry if the Deputy thinks I am engaged in party political sniping. I understand that members of his party, including his party leader, think the world started on 9 March 2011...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Properties (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I welcome the recent meeting Deputies Daly and Wallace had with officials from my Department on the issue. I hope the exchange of views and the explanations given were helpful and worthwhile from their perspective. As I have said previously, military personnel are obliged, under Defence Forces regulations, to vacate married quarters within 21 days of retiring or being discharged from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Properties (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: As I have said previously to the Deputy, having dealt with the overall issue in my initial reply, it is my Department's policy to review each over-holder situation on a case by case basis. Obviously, as each case is different, I cannot pre-empt considerations that may be given. As the Deputy knows, where people are very elderly and do not have alternative accommodation, the Department has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Properties (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: It has been the practice to meet, where appropriate, the individuals occupying the houses as opposed to some nominated representatives. I must emphasise what I said earlier, namely, that individual circumstances will be carefully examined. The Deputy is as aware as I am that there are some individuals occupying these houses who have been there for many years and who are quite clearly - to...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Fatalities (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The case of the death of Private Doherty, as well as the disappearance of Private Joyce to which the Deputy refers, has already been outlined in my reply to a priority question earlier. As I mentioned to the Deputy in the Dáil last month, I am always willing to meet the families. I received a request to meet with the family and my office has been in touch with them in this regard....

Other Questions: Defence Forces Fatalities (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Having read through all the files and papers, there were clearly several issues of relevance to the tragic events that occurred on the day in question. It is also quite clear to me that a report relating to these matters was severely critical of the organisation surrounding two privates being on their own at the location in question. Speaking from memory of the report, there were issues...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Fatalities (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: It is not necessary to give me a summary of the issues involved because I have read in full the concerns raised, the critique and the questions asked about some individuals not being questioned or given the opportunity to discuss matters. However, having read the report on file, I do not see how, so many years further on, a further discussion would add greater enlightenment to these events,...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 138 together. An Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid for the civil power, ATCP, which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. There is...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The incident to which the Deputy refers was contrary to normal conditions that apply to foreign military aircraft overflying or landing in Ireland. It is down to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade that this incident was raised at the highest level with the US Embassy by senior officials in his Department. The US Embassy expressed regret over the incident and...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have no knowledge - nor has Deputy Daly - of any aircraft landing in Shannon that was carrying the munitions to Iraq that she mentioned. If the Deputy has information that could confirm that she is very welcome to furnish it to me. I do not jump to assumptions regarding these matters. I cannot add to what I have said on this matter. For many years it has been the case that US aircraft...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: If, in the context of aeroplanes landing at Shannon Airport during the course of this year, the Deputy can provide additional information which indicates that the arrangements and agreements relating to such landings are being violated or that armaments are being carried when they should not be, I will have the matter examined. I am open to correction, but he seems to be operating on the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have not driven anybody onto a runway. It would be very unwise to drive people to such a place.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have an extraordinarily long reply and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will have to stop me halfway through it. However, I will do my best. EUTM Somalia which was launched on 7 April 2010 has been deployed to provide military training for members of the Somali national armed forces so as to increase their capability to ensure the sovereignty and security of the Somali state. The mission is...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The mission has changed significantly since locating in Mogadishu, having initially been in Uganda. We are engaged in 14 overseas missions, including EUTM Somalia, and given Ireland's commitment to this mission to date in order to support the smooth handover between mission commanders, we granted approval to retain the Defence Forces personnel in their current appointments until the end of...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I understand we have more missions currently serving overseas than at any time previously in the history of the State. We are engaged concurrently in 14 different missions. On 22 January 2013, the Council of the European Union extended the mandate of EUTM Somalia to March 2015. This third mandate implied a significant change of focus for the mission, with the inclusion of strategic,...