Results 2,861-2,880 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulatory Authority Staff (5 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The budget provision allocated to the Property Services Regulatory Authority in 2013 is €848,000. In relation to staff, there are currently over ten full time equivalent posts assigned to the PSRA's Headquarters in Navan. In both 2012 and 2013, these resources were supplemented by seven temporary clerical officers working in the Navan offices for up to three months to deal with the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reports (5 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Department of Defence and Defence Forces Annual Report 2012 was published earlier this year. The report is available on the Department of Defence website at . The

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: We should all be very proud of our Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána. I am not going to head into other areas that have been in the media for the past 24 hours. It should be remembered, however, that people in both forces put their lives on the line in the public interest and public good, not just on this island but in conflict zones across the world. They serve with great...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: We have an army of pensioners

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: In March 2011 when we came into government, the objective strength of the Defence Forces was 11,500. It was to go down to 9,000 and be reduced further to the 8,000 mark. Having regard for the financial realities of the State and our defence needs at home and abroad, a decision was made to create an objective strength of 9,500. With a smaller force, of course, there is a somewhat reduced...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I do not know off the top of my head. I have the upper age limit for applications to An Garda Síochána in my head, which I know is 35. I think it is 27, but I will confirm this for committee members. I should automatically know this.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: It can vary between competitions but I have age 27 years in my head which may apply only to a particular section of the Defence Forces. We will send a note to the Chairman for distribution to members.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: It may be somewhat younger in certain circumstances. It could be age 25 years in other circumstances. We will communicate with the Chairman.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: There is a variant between the Army, Cadets and the Naval Service and there is also a particular role with regard to the Air Corps. I am reasonably certain as to which section has an age limit of 27 years but we will confirm it in writing.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: This involves Votes 35 and 36, and it will come from the Defence Forces pay Vote into the pension side. It is reasonably straightforward.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: No, we have agreed the objective strength is 9,500. I gave the exact figures a moment ago. At present there are approximately 9,250 in the Defence Forces. By the time we get to 31 December it will be 9,400. Each year there are a number of retirements and I went through the various retirement figures a moment ago. It is important we continue with our recruitment campaign. I stated there...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: On the last occasion on which we advertised, there were in the region of 10,000 applications. There is enormous international respect for our Defence Forces. They do a really good job and the training is excellent. A member of the Defence Forces can acquire expertise in a variety of areas such that job opportunities become available on returning to civilian life. Even in the current...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will be brief because Deputy Ó Fearghaíl raised it. There are regulations in place with regard to this. As I explained, it concerns ensuring that the Defence Forces are truly fit for purpose. There are very good people who will have served their time in the Defence Forces and who will have made contributions that will be greatly appreciated, but it is important that there be a...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Ah, go on.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for his supportive remarks for the event held in Farmleigh today. In the context of recruitment, I gave the exact number of recruits this year up to October. By the time we reach 31 December we will have recruited an estimated 430 new members of the Defence Forces during the course of 2013. That is very important as well in terms of maintaining the...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----put in place for a good reason. They were put in place to ensure a reasonable turnover in the context of the functions members of the Defence Forces have to perform and, bearing age in mind, to ensure members would have the capacity to perform those functions properly. That was an issue that was very carefully addressed. It arose at one of the meetings of this committee, perhaps when...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Chairman for his kind remarks about the inaugural national missing persons day, and I will pass on his comments to officials in my Department. They did an extraordinary amount of work in bringing together what I think was a very important event and which will become a regular occurrence. I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for their support and engagement in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Syrian Conflict (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am aware of the matter to which the Deputy refers. Upheaval and conflict in Syria in particular has seen the spectacle of many individuals travelling from Europe to the fighting and tragically a number of our citizens have lost their lives there. This is an issue of concern to the majority of European States and one to which I gave priority during the Irish Presidency of the Council of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Bambi commenced in September 2013 following consultation between An Garda Síochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The operation was set up to target individuals who are suspected of being actively involved in the commission of wildlife crime, particularly the illegal hunting of wild deer and poaching. I am further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (4 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and available resources. In that context, the Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €9m for investment in the fleet, made up of an additional €5m this year and a further €4m in 2014. At...