Results 11,561-11,580 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (24 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (24 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: There is no separate Defence Ministers' Council within the EU Council of Ministers. However, twice a year - once during each Presidency - Defence Ministers attend the formal Foreign Affairs Council. These Council meetings are held in Brussels at the invitation of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Since 9 March, 2011 there have been three such meetings on 23rd...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: Of the civil servants who have retired from my Department since 2005, one former staff member at Principal Officer grade provided interview board expertise to my Department following retirement and was paid fees and expenses of €978 in relation to this service.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The number of staff in my Department who have retired under the Early Retirement Scheme or otherwise since 1 January 2012 is 6. None of these staff have been taken back onto my Department's payroll in any capacity.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Croke Park Agreement provides that there will be full support in the Civil Service and State Agencies for programmes and initiatives to support and assist the unemployed. The key programmes put in place to do this include the FÁS Work Placement Programme (WPP) and the National Internship Scheme. The active State boards under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: In addition to the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, the agencies under the aegis of my Department are the Army Pensions Board, the Civil Defence Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. Records of past employment and related pension arrangements of newly recruited staff are not captured in such a way as to provide a dedicated basis for compiling the information requested by the...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that it is not the practice to comment on investigations of the kind referred to by him but I have been assured that all steps open to the agency involved continue to be pursued.

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The position is that the public consultation process to which the Deputy refers elicited a broad range of views on future arrangements for the display and sale of alcohol products in mixed trading outlets. Following examination of the responses received I expect to be in a position to seek Government approval for proposals relating to future arrangements for such display and sale in the...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average age of Garda vehicles, excluding motorcycles, is approximately 5 years. The average age of Garda motorcycles is 6.5 years. Details of the numbers of vehicles/motorcycles purchased, both new and pre-owned, in the period 2010 to 2011 are set out in...

Written Answers — Ministerial Correspondence: Ministerial Correspondence (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: I will write to the Deputy shortly concerning the matter he has raised.

Written Answers — State Pathologists: State Pathologists (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that the State Pathologist, Deputy Pathologists and Assistant State Pathologist do not use State vehicles when attending crime scenes. In June 2010 my Department undertook a tender process to provide a driver and vehicle service to assist the Office of the State Pathologist in providing an on-call service outside of the Dublin area. The contract is for a period of 24...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: On the 7 February 2012, I secured approval for the appointment of 2 Assistant Garda Commissioners, 8 Chief Superintendents and 23 Superintendents, a total of 33 appointments to senior Garda ranks. All of the consequential vacancies at Sergeant and Inspector ranks will also be filled. I was very glad to secure the agreement of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. The Deputy will appreciate that the Courts Service, in common with all other public sector organisations, is obliged to ensure that resources are deployed to best effect in the current challenging economic climate and reductions in staff numbers. In that context the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: In March 2011 the Government decided to significantly reduce the number of Office Holders for whom official transport would be provided by An Garda Síochána. One of the consequences of that decision was that the transport arrangements in place for Ministers of State became applicable to Government Ministers, subject to very limited exceptions on security grounds. In addition, it was...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The following table provides a breakdown of the Annual Report printing and publishing costs in the years 2007 to 2010 by the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Cost Items 2007 2008 2009 2010 Number of Reports 2,000 1,500 1,600 1,800 Design €4,900.00 €5,850.00 €3,250.72 €4,000.00 Printing and Production €14,550.00 €18,035.00 €12,809.00 €13,160.00 Translation €2,060.00...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan both identified the requirement to address the age profile in the Defence Forces. The key element in military life is the need for personnel to maintain a level of fitness for combat readiness. This requirement must be balanced with the need to retain experience and expertise, particularly at...

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The stability treaty is simple in nature. This is not a complex issue because the treaty relates to a very simple matter. The treaty is designed to protect the citizens of this State from reckless spending on the part of future generations. Essentially, it will also ensure sound budgetary principles. The treaty will protect the current and future generations - the current children of this...

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: It is a great pity that by his actions, he did not ensure fiscal discipline applied. There are two specific and positive reasons for a "Yes" vote, and I have already emphasised the first. It is to ensure no reckless spending by any future Government to the detriment of our people. In the background we have an insurance policy of being able to obtain assistance through the ESM should we need...

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: Never has a man so uncalm called for calm.

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy should listen back to a recording of his own contribution.