Results 7,121-7,140 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 24 together. On the 7 April 2010, the EU launched a Military Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) in order to contribute to strengthening the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the institutions of Somalia. This support continues to take place within the framework of the EU's comprehensive engagement in Somalia, with a view to responding...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Equitation School (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 38 together. I have no plans to make changes to the operation of the Army Equitation School. The mission of the School is to promote the Irish horse through participation in international competition at the highest level. The Equitation School has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As part of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council 2013 a seminar was organised to discuss and examine how more effective co-operation and the building of partnerships both across regional organisations and between these organisations and the UN could be fostered. This was undertaken in order to enhance the effectiveness of UN mandated peacekeeping operations. A wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 34 and 147 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The attached table, which I propose to circulate, outlines the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 December 2012 the latest date for which figures are available, and the total vacancies, by rank, based on the rank establishment of 9,500. Competitions to establish panels to fill outstanding vacancies were held last year. Promotions from the panels are currently ongoing within...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Defence organisation includes civil servants, military personnel and civilian employees. It also includes the bodies under its aegis which, at 31 December 2012, were the Army Pensions Board and the Civil Defence Board. The Civil Defence Board has since been dissolved. None of the staff of the Defence organisation or its agencies are employed on a salary of €199,000 or above....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battlegroups (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 31 together. Ireland participated in the Austro-German led Battlegroup, which was on stand-by until 31 December 2012.In 2010, the then Government approved Ireland’s participation in this Battlegroup.The other members of the Austro-German Battlegroup are Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Government decided last year to accept my recommendation that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force will be maintained at 9,500. As I have previously mentioned in the House, I believe this is the optimum strength required to fulfil all roles currently assigned by Government.The Military Authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 December 2012,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Emergency Planning in this country is structured around the ‘Lead Department’ principle, which means that whichever Government Department is responsible for an activity in normal conditions will maintain that responsibility during a major emergency, particularly one that has a national level impact. The advantage of this approach is that the professionals, who deal with a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: In accordance with the provisions of the White Paper on Defence 2000, the Government is committed to maintaining Ireland’s contribution to international peace support operations through the deployment of Defence Forces personnel on UN mandated peace support operations. Deployment on all peace support missions is subject to what is referred to as “the triple lock” –...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: There were 13 tours of duty (deployments) to the Lebanon since 01 January 2000. The breakdown of the ranks requested by the Deputy for each contingent is set out in the table below: UNIT Company Sergeant CQ Sergeants Corporals Privates 86 Infantry Battalion 13 12 79 114 259 87 Infantry Battalion 10 14 98 153 269 88 Infantry Battalion 9 15 93 142 243 89 Infantry...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The recent Value for Money Report on the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) explored the options available to best support the Reserve Defence Force into the future. The central recommendation from the Value for Money Steering Committee was for the retention of the RDF with approximately 4,000 personnel spread countrywide to be based in barracks and in 16 other locations. It recommended the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The required savings of recent years, in both pay and non-pay, have necessitated a flexible and adaptive approach from the Defence Organisation. A key focus has been the prioritisation and maintenance of Permanent Defence Force operational capacity in order to ensure that the Permanent Defence Force retain the capacity to fulfil all roles assigned. All elements of Defence expenditure were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 December 2012, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,359. This is against the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500. In this context it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Recruitment (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Since the introduction of the ECF, my Department has maintained its services through a range of measures, including restructuring, reprioritisation, realignment of business processes etc. My Department is required to meet an authorised staffing level of 354 for 2013 and has already met this target. I am confident that my Department will meet the challenge of delivering on its objectives by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Company Issues (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The primary purpose of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 is to reform the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and to facilitate the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). These are bodies established for the management of such areas, the membership of which comprise the owners of residential units...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Upward Only Rent Reviews (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together. As set out in my reply to PQ 469 of 22 January, the Deputy will recall that following extensive consideration of this matter, the Government announced in December 2011 that it had decided not to proceed with legislation to abolish upward only rent review clauses in commercial leases. There was a substantial concern that any legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Decisions in relation to the provision of Garda vehicles are a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his identified operational requirements and in the light of available resources. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and I am advised by the Garda authorities that details of the costs associated with the provision of new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Registration of Wills (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The position is that the views of the Law Society on the desirability of establishing a registration of wills system were sought in 2005. The Society's Probate, Administration and Trusts Committee subsequently informed my Department that it did not favour the establishment of such a system for a number of reasons. Firstly, since the registration of wills would be voluntary, there might be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (7 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: A decision in relation to the closing date for Stepaside Garda Station is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I understand that this is being addressed by the Garda authorities in the light, inter alia, of the availability of alternative Garda accommodation. In that context, I understand that refurbishment work, which will provide additional accommodation and capacity at Dundrum Garda...