Results 6,101-6,120 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am looking forward to listening to Deputy Mac Lochlainn, who I know has a genuine interest in the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: I would disagree with absolutely nothing Deputy Mac Lochlainn has said. The commitment to volunteerism and engagement, and the interest of members of the Reserve Defence Force, is very commendable and should be encouraged. I very much encourage young people, within the limited numbers for which we can provide at present, to engage with the Reserve Defence Force. With regard to those who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am sorry if Deputy Ó Cuív does not like my response. He cast aspersions on the steering committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: He cast aspersions on the motives of the review group-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----and it is not acceptable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will finish this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: Deputy Ó Cuív raised questions as to the remit of the steering committee. Page 2 of the report, under the heading of review, scope and terms of reference-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----details the terms of reference of the committee. Those terms of reference clearly require that the review be undertaken in the context of maximising the use of public resources and ensuring that, in looking to the future as to whether we should have a reserve defence force and what its functions should be, all relevant issues be examined. The terms of reference provided for the outline...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: Deputy Ó Cuív asked was the public interest considered in the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: Yes, in the wider public interest. Dealing with the wider public interest, what was identified in the context of the report was that a substantial sum of money was being spent on the reserve by way of the payment of gratuities to members who do not participate in training, and that clearly was a feature for the entire period that Deputy Ó Cuív was in office. We wanted to ensure in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: I was anxious, because Deputy Ó Cuív seemed to think I did not want to give him a full reply, that I gave him the fullest reply possible. There is one other issue Deputy Ó Cuív raised which I can deal with briefly, that is, costing issues. On the figures I gave, in 2011 some €23 million was spent on the RDF and the changes will reduce the expenditure to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: What we have effected is a reduction in the supports necessary for the RDF, to the number overall of 57 from approximately 350. The benefit of that at a time of limited resources is that the members of the PDF who were providing those supports are now freed up to do other duties within the PDF.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will know if he has had an opportunity to read the value for money review, which was published last October, the members of the steering committee are detailed on page three. Mr. Liam Whelan, independent chairperson replaced Ms Mary Butler as independent chairperson in August 2012. It included Mr. Robert Mooney, principal officer, Department of Defence, and Col. Michael...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: It has only been published since last October.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: I read all the reports relevant to my brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: I find the Deputy's questions really interesting. I should have welcomed the members of the reserve who are in the Gallery to hear our exchanges and the extent to which issues are addressed seriously in this Parliament. It is a very good thing that they are here this morning. I gather the committee is meeting them this afternoon. I very much welcome that because I particularly value the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: I welcome the opportunity to appear before the committee to discuss the value for money, VFM, review of the Reserve Defence Forces, which I shall refer to as the RDF for the sake of brevity. I will also outline the progress to date in implementing the response to its findings and recommendations. As the committee is aware, the VFM review of the RDF formally commenced in February 2010 and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: Section 20 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 deals with the fees chargeable by the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). Application fees for the three personal insolvency arrangements have yet to be determined by the ISI. Therefore, at the present time it is not possible to indicate what revenue may be generated by the Service in this regard. The ISI will also generate revenue from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (24 Apr 2013)

Alan Shatter: The issue here is addressed in the Programme for Government. The two Ministers centrally concerned, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn and myself, as the Minister for Justice and Equality, are committed to finding a solution which provides for an appropriate balance of competing fundamental rights that is constitutionally sound. I consider that an extensive consultative...

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

Alan Shatter: The person concerned has been granted permission to remain in the State for the period to 27th March, 2015. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 27th March, 2013. It will be open to the person concerned to apply to the Citizenship Section of my Department for a Certificate of Naturalisation when he is in a position to meet the lawful residency...