Results 3,261-3,280 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Vessels (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: A vessel replacement strategy for the Naval Service is currently in progress. In that regard, a contract was signed in October 2010, with Babcock Marine, part of the Babcock International Group, in the United Kingdom for the provision of two new offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Naval Service. The cost of the two new ships is €108m, exclusive of VAT. In addition, the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Ambulance Service Provision (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: In 2005, the Department of Defence and the Department of Health completed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) which formalised arrangements for the provision of an inter-hospital air ambulance service by the Air Corps. This SLA was renewed in October, 2011. There has been a substantial increase in the use of this service with 108 missions being completed in 2012 compared with 78 in 2011 and 69...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battlegroups (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Ireland has previously participated in the Nordic Battlegroup in 2008 and 2011 and in a German led EU Battlegroup in 2012. The other members of the Nordic Battlegroup were Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia and Croatia (2011 only). The members of the German led EU Battlegroup were Germany, acting as Framework Nation, Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The statutory authority for the despatch of contingents of the Permanent Defence Force for service overseas as part of an International Force, is set out in Section 2 of the Defence (Amendment)(No. 2) Act, 1960 as amended by the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2006. is provision is commonly referred to as the "triple lock". However, personnel may be deployed for training, for humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Investigation (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the material referred to is being examined by An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will appreciate that the question of any further action or investigation in relation to this issue is a matter for the Garda authorities and it would not be appropriate for me to comment in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Missing Children (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy should be aware that the 2004 Immigration Act does not require persons under the age of 16 to register their presence in the State with the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Therefore, minors under the age of 16 do not in their own right engage directly with the immigration authorities. Children in care in the State are the responsibility of the HSE who liaise with the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Dual Citizenship Numbers (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, under Irish law the acquisition of Irish citizenship is not contingent on the renunciation of the citizenship of another jurisdiction. There is, therefore, no requirement to ascertain if a person retains or renounces their original nationality. I have no plans to amend the law in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Since taking up office as Minister for Defence, in March 2011, I have met with the Defence Forces Representative Associations on a number of occasions. On 8 April 2011, 9 November 2012 and 23 May 2013 I met with both the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA). I also attended the PDFORRA...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Strength (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The tables contain the strength of the Air Corps for each of the years 2011 and 2012 and to the 30th of September 2013, the latest date for which figures are available. I wish to advise the Deputy that the strength figures for the period 2011-2012 include personnel who were on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. The September 2013 strength figures have...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As of 01 November 2013, Ireland is contributing approximately 560 Defence Forces personnel to 14 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement attached. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 356...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The tables contain the number of personnel who left the Permanent Defence Force and the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, for each of the years 2010 to 2012 and to the 30th of September 2013, the latest date for which figures are available. It was not possible in the time available to provide a detailed breakdown showing the ranks of personnel who left. I will provide this information...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Funding (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 133 and 134 together. I am satisified 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Promotions (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 September 2013, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,188, comprising 7,379 Army, 784 Air Corps and 1,025 Naval Service personnel. The table outlines the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 30 September...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The military authorities have informed me that while the re-organisation of the Reserve Defence Force following publication of the Value For Money (VFM) Review is at an advanced stage of implementation, it is not yet fully complete. Re-assignment offers have been made to individual members. However, members have the right to appeal these offers and I understand that a number of individuals...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: My Department has been engaged on an ongoing programme of barrack consolidation since 1998. This programme has brought to fourteen the number of barracks closed during that time. To-date nine of these barracks - Clancy (Dublin), Castleblaney, Ballincollig, Fermoy, Naas, Monaghan, Cavan, Castlebar and a large portion of Longford - have been sold. In relation to the remaining barracks...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The 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 2008 to 2012 and to the 30th of September 2013, the latest date for which figures are available. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Search and Rescue Service (6 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region whilst responsibility for the prevention of drug-trafficking and people trafficking rests primarily with the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána respectively. However, the Air Corps has a role in assisting and supporting the civil...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will briefly join Deputy Smith in making a few comments. Anybody - either outside or inside the House - with any information or influence over those with information should use that information or influence. We and all right-thinking people are at one in our view that ending the suffering of the families who await the remains of loved ones must be a priority. The commission has had the...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am very aware of his long-standing interest in it. There is nothing in his contribution with which I disagree. Individuals in Northern Ireland were the victims of terrible atrocities, for which there can be no excuse of any description or any political justification. Over the course of the conflict in Northern Ireland a number of people were...

Agreement Between Canada and the European Union on Passenger Data: Referral to Joint Committee (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I move: "That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of...