Results 5,061-5,080 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

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

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together. Following on from the last General Service Recruitment campaign in 2012 a total of 539 General Service Recruits were enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force, of which 418 were enlisted in the Army, and 121 in the Naval Service. The application phase of these competitions closed on 22 April 2012. I am advised by the Military...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on external public relations or communications consultants since I took office in March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence when the Government took office were the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The Civil Defence Board was established in 2003. I appointed an interim Board as a temporary measure from 2011 and in this context none of the positions were advertised. The Civil Defence Board was identified in...

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

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together. A twelve month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service established in order to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated aeronautical support needed to assist the National Ambulance Service, primarily in the West of Ireland, commenced operations on the 4th of June 2012. The review of the pilot is currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total number of uncertified sick days 455 378 270 246 Average number of uncertified sick days per employee 1.14 1.00 0.72 0.66 Total number of certified sick days 4190 4043 3079 2275 Average number of certified sick days per employee 10.50 10.70 8.25 6.10 Total number of...

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

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 December in each of the years 2010 -2012 is set out in the table. 2012 2011 2010 Army 7510 7650 7752 Air Corps 791 791 766 Naval Service 1058 997 1032 Total Strength 9359 9438 9550 I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force,...

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

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 416 and 417 together. I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Defence Forces, including 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 matter that is...

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

Alan Shatter: A strategy for the replacement of Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessels is currently in train. A contract was signed in October 2010, with Babcock Marine in the United Kingdom for the provision of two new offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). The first ship is scheduled for delivery early in 2014. The second ship will follow one year later. The acquisition of these modern new vessels, combined...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Strength (18 Jun 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 and the 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...

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

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces has a robust and comprehensive training system which incorporates a wide variety of modern training methods. Training standards in the Defence Forces are constantly benchmarked against best international practice. Participation in ongoing overseas operations also necessitates multi lateral-training and assessment. This facilitates ongoing review of Defence Forces training...

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

Alan Shatter: The following tabular statement (Annex A) sets out the number of promotions which have occurred or are in train in the Army, Air Corps (AC) and Naval Service (NS) in each of the years 2009, 2010, 2011 2012 and to 31 May 2013, as advised by the Military Authorities. The following table (Annex B) outlines the number serving, by rank, as advised by the Military Authorities for 30 April 2013,...

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

Alan Shatter: During each EU Presidency both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held. On 12-13 February 2013, I hosted an informal meeting of EU Ministers of Defence in Dublin Castle. The Operational Commanders of three of the four current EU-led missions were also in attendance. Discussions were focused on these current operations and future proposed developments. Ireland contributes...

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. 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. In addition to the main barracks a...

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

Alan Shatter: The UN reimburses some personnel and Contingent Owned Equipment costs in respect of contributions of personnel to UN led operations. Rates of reimbursement, fixed in accordance with UN categories of equipment and personnel, are agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ireland and the UN for each mission. The only mission for which Ireland is currently entitled to reimbursement of...

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

Alan Shatter: The gross expenditure outturn position for Defence (Vote 36) from 2008 to 2012 is as follows: Defence (Vote 36) – Gross Outturn 2008 to 2012 - 2008 €m 2009 €m 2010 €m 2011 €m 2012 €m Outturn 880 804 744 704 657 The outturn figures show a saving of €223m in the period from 2008 to 2012. This represents a saving of some 25% from...

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

Alan Shatter: There are no regulators or regulatory offices accountable to my Department.

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

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 426 together. The State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence when the Government took office were the Civil Defence Board, the Board of Coiste an Asgard and the Army Pensions Board. The Civil Defence Board was identified in the Public Service Reform Plan as a body to be abolished and legislation was passed by the Oireachtas in...

Other Questions: Penalty Point System (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I should have added to my response to Deputy Wallace that, in so far as the Road Safety Authority has any evidence to present on this matter to suggest there is anything inaccurate in the report furnished to the joint Oireachtas committee, I would welcome the Road Safety Authority making that submission to the joint committee and, no doubt, the joint committee can call before it members of...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 31 and 48 together. Ireland supports, in principle, the aims and terms of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. It is a detailed convention, with a very broad scope across a number of policy areas with potential policy and legislative implications. The provisions of the convention,...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can confirm to the Deputy that we will not be signing the convention before the end of the EU Presidency, which finishes at the end of June. As someone who spent many years of his life working with victims of domestic violence and seeking to ensure our laws were as robust as possible, I have a particular personal interest in us trying to bring about a situation where we can be parties to...