Results 3,461-3,480 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The strength of the Permanent Defence Force at the end of September 2013, the latest date for which figures are available stood at 9,188, broken down into 7,379 Army, 784 Air Corps and 1,025 Naval Service. Within the figure of 9,188, 560 (or 6.09%) are women. The attached tables contain the above mentioned strength, broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (5 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: European Council Meetings (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The next Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers format will take place in Brussels on the 18th and 19th November. The provisional agenda for the meeting was circulated last week. The first session will take place on the 18th November with a joint meeting of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers who will be presented with the opportunity to discuss Common Security and Defence Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Last month, I accepted the invitation extended to me by PDFORRA's National Executive to attend their twenty second Annual Delegate Conference, held this year in Wexford. While there, I addressed delegates on a wide range of issues. These included the preparation of the new White Paper on Defence; the significant reorganisational reforms over the last twelve months; the participation of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (5 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 Recruitment (5 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 details are available, was 9,188 comprising 7,379 Army, 784 Air Corps and 1,025 Naval Service personnel. These figures do not include 80 members of the PDF who are currently on career breaks or on leave of absence. As the Permanent Defence Force is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The expenditure details requested in respect of my Department are outlined in the following table: Gross Expenditure 2013 Estimate €000 22014 Estimate €000 Change €000 Vote 36 Vote 36 (Defence) 668 0 680,4320,43 6676,652 --3,780 Vo Vote 35 (Army Pensions) 2 214,812 2 220,990 + 6,178 The 2014 expenditure provision for Vote...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: Both Deputies are a disgrace.

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is most unfortunate that on a very serious issue relating to child protection we are subjected to Deputies Clare Daly and Wallace engaging in their usual obsessive attacks to entirely undermine public confidence in An Garda Síochána. The Deputies cannot make up their minds if they want to protect children or just attack An Garda Síochána. This is a serious area of...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I do not have an agenda which is to denigrate the Garda, nor do I have an agenda to defend something that is indefensible. I am not going to ask the children's Ombudsman to exercise independent oversight, look into this matter independently, and jump to conclusions before she does so. It is a gross misrepresentation, but it suits the Deputy's narrative, to suggest that gardaí are being...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: In the area of trafficking children, section 12 of the Child Care Act, which allows the immediate intervention by An Garda Síochána, is crucial. There are many cases in which the Garda, in consultation with the HSE, intervenes to protect children. Deputy Timmins asked for statistics. I can provide data on the use of section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991. In 2010, there were 728...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will not undermine in any way the credibility of the important role the Garda generally plays in the area of child protection, in consultation with the HSE. They are somewhere between a rock and a hard place. If there is a report of a child at risk and they do not intervene and something goes wrong the Garda are criticised. Equally, if there is a report of a child at risk and they do...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: If I could adequately answer in conclusion the questions that have been raised. Deputy Timmins raised the issue of in camera proceedings. There are amendments made to the Courts Act that went through the House before the end of July that will ensure that we have greater transparency when there are child care cases before our courts. That transparency will provide protection still for the...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----is the extent to which matters relating to these two cases appeared in newspapers. That is a matter that will be the subject of the inquiry that is being made. It will be a matter, I have no doubt, that the Ombudsman for Children will address. We must ensure that when intervention is taken in any child care matter in the best interests of children, the anonymity of the child and of...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputies for raising a very important issue. There has, of course, been understandable public interest in two cases which have come to light in recent days involving children with Roma families. As I have stated already, we are all pleased and relieved that the concerns that arose on the part of the authorities in these two cases have proved to be unfounded and that the children...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Registration of Title (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. Applications under Section 49 of the Registration of Title Act 1964 for registration of title acquired by possession are governed by a detailed and complex area of land law. The title to be shown to allow the registration to proceed must be based on "adverse possession" under the Statute of Limitations Act 1957. The circumstances of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 was commenced on 1 August 2012 (S.I. 281 of 2012).

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 came into effect on 7 June 2008 and an Anti-Human Trafficking Unit was also established in my Department in that year. Between 7 June and 31 December 2008 36 alleged victims of human trafficking were encountered by An Garda Síochána. No further breakdown of the 2008 figures is available. On 1 January 2009, the Anti-Human Trafficking...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that the Visa application referred to by the Deputy was lodged at the Irish Visa Office in Abuja on 10 October 2013 and is currently being assessed. The long term or permanent nature of the intended stay in Ireland in this case means that it will require more in-depth consideration than straightforward...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned has current permission to remain in the State up to 21st December, 2013. The person concerned has applied for the renewal of this permission to remain. This application will be considered in the near future. Once a decision has been made in this application, this decision will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned. I am advised by the Citizenship Division of...