Results 7,081-7,100 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will deal with the only issue of substance the Deputy raised. As part of Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council in 2013 a seminar was organised to discuss and examine how more effective co-operation and the building of partnerships across regional organisations and between these organisations and the United Nations could be fostered. This was undertaken to enhance the effectiveness of UN...

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I do not know whether the Deputy wants me to reply. A wide range of speakers was invited to attend the seminar including from the European Union, the United Nations, the African Union, NATO and academia. Close co-operation between NATO and the United Nations and its agencies is an important element in the development of an international comprehensive approach to crisis management and...

Other Questions: EU Battle Groups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Like the EU and the African Union, NATO shares a commitment with the United Nations to maintaining international peace and security. The two organisations have been co-operating in this area since the early 1990s, which the Deputy seems to have missed. In view of this, I decided to invite a speaker to provide the discussion with the view from NATO and how it actively enhanced co-operation...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Last week, an interesting conference was held in Dublin. One of the participants at that conference was from the African Union. There is a general recognition that there are great difficulties in Mali and a need to provide assistance there to protect individuals. The Deputy appears to be of the odd view that the European Union is becoming increasingly militarised despite that every...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will be brief. I have no idea why Deputy Boyd Barrett is shouting at me. I am not responsible for all of the conflicts that are taking place in Africa, many of which are tragic. I am merely dealing with the issue raised, which relates to the United Nations resolution that trainers should be provided to the Malian armed forces. As I said previously, we are considering allowing a small...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy proceeds with his ideological diatribe, what he chooses to ignore is the atrocities taking place in northern Mali, which have been well depicted not alone in media articles but starkly on our television screens, including interviews with individuals who are the victims of atrocities and whose limbs were missing. We know that a fundamentalist group claiming to have links with...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Of course, I can give the Deputy that assurance.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 10, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 36 together, all of which relate to Mali.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will take Question No. 9 separately as it deals with EU battle groups, which has nothing to do with the issue of Mali, as I would have thought the Deputy might know. I addressed the question of possible Defence Forces participation in the EU Training Mission for Mali in answering the priority question earlier. Force generation for the new mission, which was established by the Council of...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: In the context of what I said earlier, we are now past the days when individuals are simply deployed on UN peace missions to train forces without taking what I would describe as a comprehensive approach in dealing with issues relating to the protection of civilians in conflict. The protection of human rights is an essential part of missions because it is now widely recognised that it is very...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I draw the Deputy's attention to what I said earlier, which is that our UN resolution is to provide for a UN mission, which it is, to train the domestic Malian forces so that they are fit for purpose and able to carry out their duties and able to protect that population effectively. It is not the role of Ireland to make decisions or engage in matters that relate to the particular government...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy seems to be of the views that when there is a UN-mandated mission this State should not participate. This State has an honoured tradition of participating in missions of a peacekeeping nature and missions that can contribute to conflict resolution and the protection of civilian life. It is particularly interesting that the Deputy fails to make any reference to the UN mandate. I...

Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 18 together. Since 1998 a total of 14 barracks have been closed under various barrack consolidation programmes. To date, nine of these barracks, Clancy in Dublin, Castleblaney, Ballincollig, Fermoy, Naas, Monaghan, Cavan, Castlebar and a large portion of Longford, have been sold. On the remaining barracks, agreement has been reached for the sale of...

Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I would be an enthusiast for the disposal of both barracks if there was an appropriate proposal made in that regard. There has been a long history of engagement with State agencies on Magee Barracks since its closure in 1998. In 1999, at the request of the then Department of Foreign Affairs, part of the site was made available for use as a temporary accommodation for some 265 Kosovar...

Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is an important site with significant potential. It is unfortunate that its potential has not been realised more actively. Since I have become Minister, my Department has done everything possible with regard to the various vacant sites by circulating State agencies and Departments and making it known that sites are available. The site in Kildare has been vacant for a long time. Deputy...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 25 together. The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, keep the threat level...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Policy (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As far as I recollect there are no powers the Minister of Defence has normally of which I have been relieved. On the assumption that I remain sane, I assure the Deputy that I have no intention of posing any threat to the State by virtue of my being in this unusual position of being Minister for Defence and Minister for Justice and Equality. The two Departments are entirely separate but in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Policy (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: My recollection is that a ministerial colleague from one of the smaller EU states holds both portfolios. I will inform the Deputy in writing. I am thinking of two states and I do not want to be mistaken. I note with interest that the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Niall Collins, keeps complaining that we recruited 600 new members of the Defence Forces during 2012. It seems to be a regular...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Naval Service plays a vital role in the State's fight against drug smuggling as a member of the joint task force on drug interdiction, together with the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána. While the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention of drug smuggling, and responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Naval Service Operations (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I agree with everything Deputy Mac Lochlainn says. The Naval Service is an outstanding arm of the Defence Forces and Flag Officer Mark Mellett is doing a fantastic job. There is their linkage with the private sector in seeking to participate in developments that would be of use to the Naval Service and which may result in products being created which could provide job creation opportunities....