Results 9,681-9,700 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together. In June of this year, and as part of a review, I published a discussion document on the future direction of legislation on prostitution. The document was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which has been asked to report back to me by the end of November. The public submissions referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have no plans for any general scheme to legalise the residency of undocumented and illegally present foreign nationals in this State. It is the responsibility of all non-EEA nationals who are resident in Ireland to ensure that they have an appropriate permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality. Individuals who do not have a permission to be in the State are liable to be subject...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales Legislation (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The position is that during my discussions earlier this year with the Minister for Social Development in Northern Ireland, Nelson McCausland, MLA, we agreed on the desirability of developing a joint North/South approach to restricting certain alcohol promotions and on the need to have the necessary arrangements in place by the end of this year. The Department of Social Development in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Numbers (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: My Department continues to grant leave of absence in the form of Career Breaks and leave under the Shorter Working Year Scheme. Other forms of unpaid leave are also widely availed of such as Parental leave, special unpaid leave for domestic reasons and study purposes. My Department also facilitates worksharing arrangements where possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licensing Laws (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will recall, some of the information requested previously could not be obtained in the time available. I am now informed by the Garda authorities that the following table sets out the number of proceedings commenced and convictions recorded for the offence of trading without a licence contrary to Section 7 of the Intoxicating Liquor (General) Act 1924, each year from 2007 to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Accommodation (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Curragh Post Primary School comes under the auspices of County Kildare VEC. My Department and the military authorities are not currently engaged in discussion with the Department of Education or Kildare VEC in relation to improved accommodation or the provision of second level education in general in the Curragh Camp. Discussions did take place in recent years between officials of my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commemorative Events (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: There had been a suggestion for a commemorative medal to be issued to all serving members of the Defence Forces in 2013. However, having reviewed the matter, it has now been decided not to progress it further. While I welcome the suggestion in relation to a proposed “Old Soldiers Day”, it is not proposed to introduce a new military ceremonial event in the current economic climate.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure which reported at the end of 2011, I secured the agreement of the Government to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. However, at this strength ceiling, the organisational structures that had been in place for a strength ceiling of 11,500 personnel were no longer viable. Accordingly, I initiated a major...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Equipment (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: There are no plans for the acquisition of new aircraft for the Air Corps at the present time. This has to be taken in the context of the significant expenditure on the Air Corps fleet in recent years. The provision for the Air Corps in 2012 mainly relates to the maintenance and Power by the Hour contracts set up to keep the Air Corps fleet fully operational with specific maintenance work...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Training (25 Sep 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, using the most modern methods and equipment available.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Vessels (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised that there is a fleet of eight ships available to the Naval Service, six of which are currently in operational service. Both LE Eithne and LE Orla are undergoing scheduled maintenance at present. In order to maintain maximum availability and serviceability, major maintenance for each vessel is planned well in advance and is incorporated into an annual patrol plan for the Naval...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Irish Red Cross (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I welcome the fact that arising from the Chapter on Financial Control in the Irish Red Cross Society that was contained in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 2010, the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) subsequently dealt in some considerable depth with a wide range of issues relating to weak financial controls in the past and allegations of poor corporate...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 339 together. It is a matter for the Military Authorities to select candidates based on specific criteria and in accordance with Defence Force Regulations for positions in the Defence Forces. In relation to the specific statistics sought regarding applicants for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force the Military Authorities have advised that...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Value for Money Reviews (20 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: A Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing and the Steering Committee, established to oversee the VFM Review of the Reserve, met most recently on the 19th September. The Steering Committee is working towards completing the report by the end of this month. The Steering Committee commenced its work in February 2010 and in the intervening period other priorities such as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Defence property portfolio is kept under review to ensure the most effective use of military resources, having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective in the ongoing defence modernisation programme and has been recommended in many reports over the past number...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 20 and 23 together. I have addressed many of the issues raised in these questions in my reply to the earlier priority questions. In relation to the disbandment of the Western Brigade, the Minister tasked the Secretary General of the Department and the Chief of Staff to bring forward proposals for a reorganization of the Defence Forces within the context...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Ombudsman Resources (20 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The term of appointment of the former Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, Ms. Paulyn Marrinan Quinn, expired on 18 September 2012. The Public Appointments Service are currently conducting a competition aimed at filling the post, with interviews scheduled to be completed in early October. Once this process is complete the matter will be submitted to Government by the Minister proposing that the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks Closures (20 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Minister for Defence has previously outlined to the House the consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective in the ongoing defence modernisation programme and has been recommended in many reports over the past number of years. This was a key consideration of Government in addressing this issue as releasing personnel from security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks Closures (20 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The cost savings accruing as a result of barrack closure are substantial and are particularly important as they enable the operational capacity of the Defence Forces to be maintained notwithstanding the fall in overall strength. Regarding the recent closure of the four military barracks - Clonmel, Cavan, Mullingar and Castlebar - military personnel occupied on security and support functions...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 31 together. In May 2012, six members of the Permanent Defence Force were deployed as unarmed military observers to the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), in response to a request from the United Nations. On 20 July 2012, the Security Council of the United Nations extended the mission for 30 days and said that any further extension...