Results 7,821-7,840 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The current number of Defence Forces Reserve, DFR, personnel based in Dublin is 948. This number is divided into the various DFR units and sub-units currently in the Dublin area. With regard to future plans for the Defence Forces Reserve, as the Deputy will be aware, I recently published a value for money review of the Defence Forces Reserve. The steering committee concluded that the...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I commend the Deputy on researching some of the views expressed by members of the Fine Gael party. At least they have views on issues of importance and we debate and consider them. The debate on the Green Paper will give us a useful opportunity to discuss our position in dealing with peacekeeping and peace enforcement; to discuss the benefits of the triple lock and whether there are any...

Other Questions: European Council Meetings (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 16 together. I attended both the formal Foreign Affairs Council in defence Minister format and the meeting of the European Defence Agency steering board which preceded it on 19 November. The agenda for the steering board consisted of the 2013 budget and work programme, the work plan for 2013 to 2015 and a voluntary code of conduct on defence pooling...

Other Questions: European Council Meetings (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: It means double the time and double the excitement.

Other Questions: European Council Meetings (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I appreciate the Deputy's continuing interest in my having possible gems of wisdom. All members of the Fine Gael Party always have interesting things to say on a broad range of issues. Interoperability is like pooling and sharing, a relevant issue in the context of member states dealing with common security or defence issues or, as I said earlier, dealing with co-operation in EU-UN...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Question Nos. 9, 15, 32 and 176 together. I am frightened to ask how much time that gives us as a consequence.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I will try and be briefer than that. Through the United Nations stand-by arrangements system Ireland has offered to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time, which demonstrates our commitment to the cause of international peace. This continues to be the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations. Ireland is...

Other Questions: EU Battlegroups (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: We have a number of priorities dealing with the European Council meetings that will take place. As the Deputy may already know, an informal Council meeting will take place in Dublin, based at Dublin Castle, on 12 and 13 February at which a variety of issues will be under discussion. One of the issues of importance as we go through our Presidency is preparation for the European Council...

Other Questions: White Paper on Defence (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The White Paper published in 2000 has provided, as the Deputy is aware, the framework within which the defence organisation has responded to the significant changes in the defence and security environment. I am of the view that the preparation for the new White Paper on defence will benefit greatly from an informed and wide-ranging debate on Ireland’s defence policy. To that end and...

Other Questions: White Paper on Defence (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I would not give respectability to the groups the Deputy mentioned by referring to them as dissident republicans: they are primarily criminal terrorists who have no respect of any description for the democratic will of people on both sides of this island to bring an end to violence, mayhem and destruction. They are individuals who, while waving a green flag, are deeply involved in...

Other Questions: White Paper on Defence (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for his question. There will be widespread consultation following the publication of the Green Paper. I am very conscious that when the last White Paper was published it had very important content and it has stood the test of time, in fairness to those who published it, but it appeared a little like a rabbit out of a hat without the level of consultation that I believe...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I do not accept that there is such a difficulty. We had a three brigade structure posited on a Permanent Defence Force strength of 11,500. When I entered office, the Defence Forces were heading towards a position where, based on the funding provided by the previous Government, there would have been a strength of fewer than 8,000. We consolidated the number at 9,500. I received a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I cannot comment and I am sure the Deputy would not want me to comment on a specific instance he has raised. If he wants to set out the difficulties he says occurred, I will ensure he receives a reply. There are very specific procedures to be complied with in promotions in the Defence Forces. Should the procedures not be complied with, or should a difficulty issue arise, a complaint can...

Other Questions: EU Battlegroups (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 29 and 33 together. Ireland is participating in the Austro-German-led battle group which will be on standby until 31 December. In 2010 the then Government approved Ireland's participation in this battle group. The other members of the Austro-German battle group are Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of...

Other Questions: EU Battlegroups (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am happy to tell the Deputy that preliminary discussions have been held on Ireland's possible participation in 2015 in the Nordic battle group, to which he referred. Ireland participated in the Nordic battle group in 2008 and 2011. Other members of the Nordic battle group were Sweden which was acting as the framework nation, Finland, Norway, Estonia and Croatia. Ireland is due to...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I must still oppose the amendment. I will draw some aspects of the amendments to the attention of Senators. Amendment No. 4 states: "to include work carried out by persons who engage in the provision of professional child-minding services for reward including work carried out by a nanny and/or au pair service...". First, with regard to an au pair service, an organisation or a service that...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I must switch personality from being Minister for Justice and Equality to being Minister for Defence to take questions at 2.30 p.m. I have seen a draft of the Senator's amendment and it is not very long. If we adjourn until 2.10 p.m., it might be possible to take it. Alternatively, I would have no difficulty if the House wanted to take it immediately after the conclusion of defence questions.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: A value for money review of the RDF was recently completed and published. In my previous reply I outlined the key findings and recommendations contained in that review. I also set out the necessary changes being introduced to the organisational structures of the reserve. These changes will help to ensure a viable reserve into the future. The new organisational structures are based on a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: Yes. In the case of No. 1 Brigade, this location will be in Cork. On this basis and to achieve a geographic spread, it is no longer feasible to retain reserve elements in Clonmel. While the closure of many RDF locations is regrettable, the findings of the value for money review clearly highlighted that the current approach was no longer viable. All members of the reserve will be afforded...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: What is happening, a Chathaoirligh? This is Question Time. The Deputy was entitled to put a question to me and I am entitled to respond to it.