Results 7,901-7,920 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abduction (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that a system of immigration exit controls does not exist in this jurisdiction and the Deputy will appreciate that there would be special difficulties with operating such a system in the context of the border with Northern Ireland. If a person removes a child from the State in breach of another person's custody rights, that other person can make an application under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that the management of the staff of my Department is a matter for the Secretary General of the Department. I would ask the Deputy, given that this question seems to be one in a series of similar questions over recent months, that if he is aware of any particular issues concerning a particular individual he asks that individual to highlight those concerns directly...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Redeployment (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: For the pilot, invitations for expression of interest were invited from serving Clerical Officers (CO) and Executive Officers (EO) from across the Department of Justice and Equality. A short-listing of interested candidates followed by an interview with those short-listed was carried out and a panel of suitable candidates at EO and CO level was established. I am informed that one individual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: In accordance with the provisions of the Garda Síochána Acts, proposals to change Garda District geographical boundaries are a matter in the first instance for the Garda Commissioner, in the context of the Annual Policing Plan. Proposals to amalgamate a number of Garda District have been included by the Garda Commissioner in his Policing Plan for 2013. This has been done...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that 100 of the 664 Garda Stations throughout the State are due to close in the coming year. The stations selected for closure are those which are in areas that, in the professional opinion of the Garda Commissioner, could be better served by having Gardaí patrolling the areas rather than being confined to a specific premises. In coming to this view, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: Given that the person concerned had no valid basis to remain in the State, he was notified, by letter dated 17th July, 2010, that the then Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of him, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cyber Bullying (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I assure the Deputy that I share the widespread concern about bullying by means of communications technology. It is very regrettable that this highly beneficial resource is abused in that way, causing great distress to many people. There are two approaches to tackling cyberbullying, that is to say, bullying over the internet, by mobile phone or by other technological devices. In the first...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Remuneration (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been advised that 11 temporary in nature promotions have been made in my Department as part of the preparation for the EU Presidency in the following grades; 1 Principal Officer; 4 Assistant Principal Officers; 4 Higher Executive Officers and 2 Executive Officers. I can confirm for the Deputy that the relevant sanction for such promotions was sought from the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The following table outlines the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 October 2012 the latest date for which figures are available, and the total vacancies, by rank, based on the rank establishment of 9,500. Promotions and Recruitment are ongoing within the Permanent Defence Force in order to fill these rank vacancies. They will be carried out within the resource envelope...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 175 together. Since 1998 a total of fourteen barracks have been closed under various barrack consolidation programmes. To-date nine of these barracks - Clancy (Dublin), Castleblaney, Ballincollig, Fermoy, Naas, Monaghan, Cavan, Castlebar and a large portion of Longford - have been sold. In relation to the remaining barracks agreement has been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Training (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Air Corps keeps abreast of all developments in modern aviation. It conducts its training in accordance with industry best practices and to the highest standards, referencing European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements and using the most modern methods and equipment available.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Vessels (12 Dec 2012)

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 (OPV’s). The acquisition of these modern new vessels, combined with a continuous process of refurbishment and repair on the other vessels in the fleet, will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Equipment (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Defence Forces, including equipment and training resources, 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. However, it is imperative that the Department and the Defence Forces, similar to all other...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Reserve Training (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The central recommendation from the Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force was for the retention of the Reserve with 4,000 personnel spread countrywide to be based in barracks and in 16 other locations. This requires the consolidation of existing Reserve Units throughout the country into a smaller number of full-strength Units. A new “Single Force” concept will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The strength of the Permanent Defence Force at the end of October 2012, the latest date for which figures are available stood at 9,152, of which 573 (6.26%) are women. Comparative figures at the end of 2007 show a strength of 10,434 of which 560 (5.37%) were female. The attached table contains the strength, broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank groupings for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2012)

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: Departmental Staff Remuneration (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: My Department is not using temporary promotions or acting ups to manage staffing arrangements for the EU Presidency. Hence, my Department did not seek sanction in this regard from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Barracks Closures (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The decisions made in this regard were based on the operational assessments and judgements of the chief of staff and Secretary General of my Department looking at the most appropriate locations to ensure we preserve a nationwide representation of the reserve. In respect of the issue the Senator raised relating to Cork, I emphasise that all reservists will be invited to apply for positions...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Barracks Closures (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I thank Senator Landy for raising this issue. As he will be aware, a value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, was recently completed and published. The review was undertaken by a steering committee with an independent chair and had representatives from the Department of Defence, Defence Forces and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It found that the current...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: This amendment inserts ""trustee" to mean a person appointed as a trustee under Part V" to give greater clarity to the Bill.