Results 5,001-5,020 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Ambulance Service Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 44 together. On June 4th last year a twelve-month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service, supported by the Air Corps, commenced operating out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. The service was established by agreement between my Department and the Department of Health to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated emergency aeromedical...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The acquisition of clothing and equipment for the Defence Forces remains a focus for me as Minister for Defence. The Deputy can be assured that I am minded to ensure that modern and effective clothing and equipment is available for our troops in overseas peace support operations. In this regard, the personal equipment, which the individual soldier has at his/her disposal in Lebanon and on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission is the main overseas mission in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed. The 108th Infantry Battalion, comprising some 337 personnel, was deployed to UNIFIL in May 2013 when it replaced personnel of the 107th Infantry Battalion. The Irish Battalion has been working alongside a contingent of 170 personnel of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 48 together. Malaria is a serious disease that kills approximately 1 million people per year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. It is a serious threat to any military force operating in the area. The anti-malaria regime in place in the Defence Forces – including the use of Lariam – has worked. In the decade of deployment to sub-Saharan...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Transport (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: In the Programme for Government a commitment was given to introduce a new code of practice for the use of the Ministerial Air Transport Service ensuring transparent and cost effective travel. The Department of the Taoiseach accepted lead responsibility for this commitment with my Department and the Defence Forces having a contributory role in its implementation. In line with this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 38 and 39 together. In this jurisdiction, security arrangements for the G8 Summit which is currently taking place in Co. Fermanagh are primarily the responsibility of An Garda Síochána. However, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2000) is to provide Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces Intelligence Branch provide regular assessments, reports and briefings to the Chief of Staff, the Minister for Defence and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence, relating to internal or external threats to the security of the State and to national interests. Intelligence led liaison is conducted between Intelligence Branch and national authorities in other...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The involvement of the Defence Forces in responding to emergencies or security issues arises from requests for assistance from An Garda Síochána in an Aid to the Civil Power role or from other agencies of State in Aid to the Civil Authority. In relation to Aid to the Civil Authority, the Framework for Major Emergency Management sets out the structure for enabling the Principal...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: Similar to all other Government Departments, it is imperative that the Department and the Defence Forces take into account the current difficult economic environment we are now operating in. The budgetary situation continues to dictate the level of funding available for recruitment, new equipment and upgrading facilities. In relation to the current strength of the Defence Forces I am...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Correspondence (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I would firstly like to extend my sympathies to the families of the deceased.I have been in correspondence with the family on the matter. Officials from my office met with them as recently as 16 May last. The family have supplied me with information in relation to their concerns. This information has been examined by officials in my Department and I have now sought further legal advice...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a focus for me as Minister for Defence. However, it is imperative that the Department and the Defence Forces, similar to all other Government Departments, must take into account the current difficult economic environment we are now operating in. The budgetary situation will continue to dictate the level of funding available for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 April 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,163 comprising 7,355 Army, 780 Air Corps and 1,028 Naval Service personnel. In this context it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. Following on from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. On 9 October 2012, the UN Security Council extended ISAF’s mandate for a further year until October 2013. Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN mandated...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Investigations (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The military authorities completed an investigation into these allegations in 2010 and the Chief of Staff reported to the Minister for Defence at that time in this regard. The Chief of Staff confirmed that of the five personnel against whom allegations were made, two were then serving as members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), and three were former members. The investigation found...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under this programme there has been considerable capital investment at Custume Barracks, Athlone in recent years. The most recent major projects undertaken include the construction of Armoured...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: As of 15 June 2013, Ireland is contributing approximately 445 Defence Forces personnel to 12 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 UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 361 personnel, including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Defence property portfolio is kept under review to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. As the Deputy is aware the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Ombudsman Complaints (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: Statistics, including the number of complaints processed and investigated by the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (ODF) each year, are published in the Ombudsman’s annual reports. Copies of these reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and are also publicly available on the Ombudsman’s website www.odf.ie. The latest annual report published by the ODF is in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Council Legislation (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Programme for Government undertakes to “legislate to establish a Judicial Council, with lay representation, to provide an effective mechanism for dealing with complaints against judges” and this commitment is being given expression in the form of the proposed Judicial Council Bill. As well as providing for the establishment of a Judicial Council and Board that will promote...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 389 together. As the Deputy may be aware, eligibility for the new judgeships was initially confined to serving County Registrars in order to avoid expenditure on additional judicial salaries and pensions. The appointment of six County Registrars as specialist judges will create the necessary ring fenced judicial capacity for personal insolvency...