Results 2,681-2,700 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: In recent years the defence budget, in tandem with all other areas of the public service, has had to bear its share of cuts. However, the Government’s agreement in 2012 to my recommendation to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, together with the reorganisation and other reforms, has facilitated the retention of key capability. All elements of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Regarding equipment, it was the policy of the previous Government and the current Government, in the context of the current financial difficulties, that substantial portions of the funding raised from the sale of barracks and other properties held by the Defence Forces were to be utilised in the provision of resources and equipment to the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces' resources and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy knows the answer to the question. If any issue arises about which I need to engage with RACO, I am available to engage with the organisation. I have met them on various occasions. On this occasion, the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, attended the conference because it coincided, as the Deputy will be aware, with the publication of the Smithwick report and it was necessary for me...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 17 together. Fifty four (54) of the properties are located at the Curragh Camp. The properties located at the Curragh Camp include 25 occupied by serving personnel and their families and 29 occupied by overholders. Presently, it is understood from the military authorities that there are a further 47 vacant properties at the Camp which were formerly...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Ireland is not a party to the Hague Convention (V) respecting the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in Case of War on Land, and there are no plans for it to become one. Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. This policy has been underpinned by a set of complementary values which include, inter alia, the protection...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battle Groups (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Government has not yet approved Ireland's proposed participation in the Nordic Battlegroup in 2015 and the German led Battlegroup in 2016. The Nordic Battlegroup will comprise Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway, Estonia and possibly Lithuania and Latvia. The German led Battlegroup will comprise Germany, acting as Framework Nation, Luxembourg, Austria, the Czech Republic...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Gender Balance Issues (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: 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. Significant progress has been made by the Military Authorities in addressing gaps between male and female participation in the Defence Forces, with an increase of 23% of female participation in the PDF...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Council Meetings (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers format on the 18th and 19th November in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton. NATO Secretary General Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen joined the meeting for some working sessions. On Monday evening, during the first working session, Defence and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: UN Missions (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 21 and 24 together. Following Government and Dáil approval, the deployment of the 43rd Infantry Group to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights was successfully completed on 28 September 2013. The 43rd Infantry Group, comprising 115 personnel, consists of a Force Reserve Company and support elements. Their...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The agreed stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force is 9,500 comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 October 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,222 comprising 7,422 Army, 778 Air Corps and 1,022 Naval Service personnel. Recruitment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which I chair, includes senior officials of Government Departments, senior officers of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and officials of other key public authorities, which have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. The Task Force meets on a regular basis. So far this year there have been five meetings of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Ambulance Service Provision (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 27 together. There are no plans to expand the role of the Air Corps in the provision of Air Ambulance services. As the Deputy will be aware, a twelve-month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service, supported by the Air Corps, commenced operating out of Custume Barracks, Athlone on 4th June last year. This pilot service was established by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I assume the Deputy is referring to reports of clashes between protestors and security forces in Kidal, a town in the northern part of Mali, on 28 November 2013. I understand the violence broke out ahead of the planned arrival of the Malian Prime Minister to Kidal. However, I have been informed that the circumstances and details of the incident have yet to be established. I strongly...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Equipment (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: There are no plans for the acquisition of new aircraft for the Air Corps at the present time. There has been significant expenditure on the Air Corps fleet in recent years. The comprehensive investment programme included the delivery of Pilatus training aircraft at a total cost of €60m, the acquisition of two light utility EC 135 helicopters at a cost of €12.8m, the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Recently, I accepted the invitation extended to me by RACO's National Executive to attend their Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC), held this year in Wicklow, on the 3rd of December 2013. While I had attended the PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference earlier this year, unfortunately, I was unable to attend the RACO BDC on this occasion as I needed to attend to other urgent business, i.e. the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licensing Laws (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The position is that statutory provisions governing the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol products in licensed premises, including public houses and restaurants, is set out in the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011. While the sale and supply of alcohol products in such premises is subject to specific conditions set out in the Licensing Acts, these conditions do not currently specify that such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Records (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am having enquiries made and will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the Implementation Plan for Year Two of the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 to 2015 is being finalised as part of the business planning process for 2014 and will be published on the Service's website (www.irishprisons.ie) shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Retirements (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: My Department's Financial Shared Services (FSS) centre received certain information from the Garda authorities that has facilitated the calculation of notional earnings for the period since the retirement of the person (details supplied) in August 2004 and these figures were sent to the person's solicitor on 28th August 2013. The solicitor's request for the calculation of notional earnings...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inspector of Prisons Reports (11 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that on receipt of the interim report from the Inspector of Prisons I met with the Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Michael Donnellan, and discussed the content of the Report with him. The Director General assured me that the concerns raised by the Inspector will be dealt with. In particular, concerns raised in terms of the general maintenance of the...