Results 11,141-11,160 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I hope the Deputy understands that if a process is under way with regard to a reorganisation of the Defence Forces, issues of deployment will be part of the issues that are considered within the context of that process. I appreciate that the Deputy is essentially making the case that a brigade headquarters should continue to be based in Athlone. I presume that every Member of this House who...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to circulate a table with the Official Report, which outlines the number of vacancies in the Permanent Defence Force by rank. The number of vacancies, by rank, is based on the employment control framework of 10,000 - all ranks - in the Permanent Defence Force, versus the strength of 8,885 as at 30 April 2012. This is the latest date for which figures are available. As the House...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: In the context of dealing with the general issue, first, part of the process in which we are now engaging is to examine the balance between members of particular ranks and ordinary members of the Defence Forces to ensure there is not a disproportion in the context of those at officer level as compared to enlisted personnel. In the absence of the final report I will receive from the...

Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Promotions have taken place. In 2011, for example, 138 officers and 219 enlisted personnel were promoted. To date this year, promotions include the appointment of one major general, four brigadier generals, 120 officers and 27 enlisted personnel.

Army Barracks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Since the closure of Magee Barracks in Kildare town and particularly in recent years, the site has fallen into disrepair and all buildings have been severely vandalised. It has also been the focus of anti-social behaviour. My Department has continued, where necessary, to take additional security measures to secure and protect the site. In cases where local residents have notified my...

Cyber Attacks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, is devising a national cyber security policy aimed at protecting economic infrastructure and informing and assisting citizens in this regard. I understand his Department is also preparing an awareness campaign focused on cyber security and aimed at individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, the education...

Cyber Attacks (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Two members of the Defence Forces and two members of An Garda Síochána with expertise in this area are part of a committee which is led by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This is an issue I raised very soon after my ministerial appointment. As chairman of the Government task force on emergency planning, I have briefed the committee on issues relating to...

Departmental Properties (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Department of Defence's 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 Department has been engaged in an ongoing programme of barracks consolidation since 1998 which has brought to 14 the number of barracks closed during that time. In addition, a number of smaller...

Departmental Properties (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I do not have that figure. The total sum realised from the sale of all properties, including barracks, is more than €84 million. The figure relating to smaller properties already disposed of, as set out in the table, is €16,777,592. In the current market it amounts to an artificial exercise to seek to put a value on the group of smaller properties earmarked for disposal. Some of them...

Departmental Properties (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: As I understand, there are no major security costs associated with the properties we are discussing. Some of them are married quarters which are now vacated. There are some married quarters that were supposed to have been vacated some years ago but have not been, for a variety of reasons. In the past, these matters have been the subject of Dáil questions. With regard to individual...

Overseas Missions (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: The main overseas mission in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL. The second rotation of Irish personnel serving with the mission since Irish troops returned to Lebanon in May 2011 was completed this week with the deployment of personnel of the 106th Irish Infantry Battalion to UNIFIL. The 106th Infantry Battalion,...

Overseas Missions (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: The mandate for UNIFIL remains unchanged in the context of the particular issues that gave rise to it. This is a very volatile region of the world. I do not think anyone can predict with certainty how matters may develop in the coming months, never mind the coming years. Currently, there some refugees from Syria in Lebanon, and there are some reports of disturbances close to the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Expenditure: Defence Forces Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. Pursuant to their role in rendering aid to the civil power, the Defence Forces have a number of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams on call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to requests received from An Garda Síochána for assistance in dealing with a suspect device or for the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Vehicle safety training, as with all military training is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. The current Defence Forces Driver Training Policy Instruction was first issued in 2006 and last updated in 2011. It is a comprehensive instruction covering all aspects of driver training. The aim of this instruction is to apply a safe, suitable and flexible system of driver training which...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 25 together. The Government has decided to accept my recommendation that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force will be maintained at 9,500. I believe that 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 30 April,...

Written Answers — Military Archives: Military Archives (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Military Archives are located in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin 6. The Military Archives is the designated place of deposit for the records of the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Army Pensions Board under the terms of the National Archives Act 1986. Archives are held there and, because of space constraints, in other locations. The function of the Military...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Expenditure: Defence Forces Expenditure (17 May 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 — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have the necessary resources to fulfil all roles that are assigned to them by Government including provision of assistance to the civil authorities in any emergency situations that may arise. In relation to...

Written Answers — European Defence Agency: European Defence Agency (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: Ireland participates in the framework of the European Defence Agency and I, as the Minister for Defence, represent Ireland on the EDA Steering Board along with Defence Ministers of all participating EU Member States. The primary reason for Ireland's interaction and participation in the EDA is to support the development of Defence Forces capabilities for crisis management and international...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (17 May 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the number of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force Corps of Engineers was 313 on 14 May, the latest date for which figures are available. The distribution of these personnel is contained in the table below. Unit No. of persons Total Southern Brigade 80 Total Eastern Brigade 66 Total Western Brigade 77 Total Reserve 7 Total Logs...