Results 8,721-8,740 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter
- Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: It is much better that we have these rows in this Parliament than re-engage in other areas.
- Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: I am not sure what relevance Palestine has to our discussion on the Defence Forces.
- Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: The Deputy should not articulate prejudices in this Parliament.
- Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: The Deputy should not articulate his prejudices in this Parliament.
- Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 158 together. Border duty allowance was introduced in January 1972 and is still in existence. It was introduced because of some activities going on in Northern Ireland with which Deputy Mac Lochlainn will be familiar. Border duty allowance is similar to security duty allowance which is payable to Defence Forces personnel engaged on extended security...
- Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: I am not aware that a large number of skilled personnel are actively disengaging from the Defence Forces. There has been no evidence to this effect since the announcement of the reorganisation. Retirement from the Defence Forces exceeded 500 in the first two months of this year. However, this derived from the facility available under the public service arrangements put in place to enable...
- Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: We have moved a wonderful distance in this country. I do not mean that sarcastically. It is particularly interesting and important that Sinn Féin are concerned about the future of the Defence Forces and its operational capacity. For a long time Sinn Féin Party members did not recognise - at least their predecessors did not - the Defence Forces and often saw some of them as...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: I suppose it would not have happened if reforms had not been introduced. The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is independent. It is for members of the military in circumstances where they believe they have been wronged to complain to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, and they are free and able to do that. I thought the Deputy would have welcomed that there are fewer...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: -----in which they are engaged should be dealt with less efficiency to give more work to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: I do not believe that is the case. Incidentally the Deputy might be interested to know that the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces makes recommendations to the Minister and the Minister must decide whether to accept or reject them. Owing to the impact on members of the Defence Forces it was always my view that when a recommendation is received from the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces it...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: Should I give the reply for the record of the House?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: Is it in order that we give Deputy Donnelly a written reply on that matter? I am agreeable to doing that if it facilitates him.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: Unless there is some procedural difficulty, I am happy that he gets a written reply.
- Other Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 14 and 20 together. Again we are coming back to the issue Deputy Ó Fearghaíl raised earlier. I am sure Members will not be surprised to hear me say that I absolutely reject the claim of the former president of PDFORRA. The Government remains committed to maintaining the capacity and capability of the Defence Forces to undertake the roles...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: The Deputy knows the Government he supported in this House for many years left the gardaí in the circumstances and conditions he is referring to. At a time when the Government he supported was flaithiúlach with money, it did not provide the funding needed to provide the Garda station.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: I am sorry if the truth gets in the way of the fiction the Deputy likes to constantly perpetrate in this Chamber. The reality is that he supported a Government for years that failed to provide the new Garda station that was needed so let us not make a big thing about it here today as if it is newly discovered.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: We are looking at the possibility of providing a Garda facility within the confines of the barracks. It is an issue that does not just involve my Department. It also involves the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for constructing Garda stations and acquiring sites for them. As the Deputy knows well, this property is owned by the Department of Defence and, as was the case with...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: The Deputy should give serious consideration to applying to participate in the Kilkenny comedy weekend which is run on an annualised basis.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: I am sure he would be a star turn.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (7 Nov 2012)
Alan Shatter: As the Deputy seemed to miss, the Office of Public Works has responsibility for Garda stations. If the funding must be provided, it will come from the OPW and resources must be identified. I know the Deputy finds it difficult to make the connection between the provision of a Garda station and identifying the funding necessary to provide it, but that is the reality and it is an issue to...