Results 12,781-12,800 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The relevant Council is the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2011 there were a total of forty-two meetings of this Council including ten "informal" meetings of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs. The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table. 2007 January * Minister of State Frank Fahy T.D. February Permanent...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in April, 2011. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Responsibility for adoption legislation and policy lies with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs who recently indicated in responding to a similar question (number 235 of 19 January 2012) that "Under the provisions of the Adoption Act 2010, the only persons who can jointly adopt are married couples. There are currently no proposals to change the legislation in this regard." I have not...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The moratorium on Public Service Recruitment continues to apply to the Garda Síochána and no date has been fixed for future intakes into the Garda College. A decision on when recruitment will re-commence will take into account the rate of retirements and Government targets, set in the context of the agreement with the EU and the IMF, to reduce the number of public servants. Recruitment to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The information sought by the Deputy regarding salaries and allowances paid to private secretaries in the Department of Defence is set out in the following table. Position Number Salary Scale Allowance Private Secretary to Minister 1 €43,816 - €55,415 (Higher Executive Officer Standard Scale ) €19,653 Private Secretary to Minister of State 1 €43,816 - €55,415 (Higher Executive...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The Civil Defence Act 2002 provides that the Board shall consist of at least eight but not more than fourteen members who shall be appointed by the Minister for Defence. Legislation is currently being drafted to dissolve the Civil Defence Board and transfer the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Since I took office in March 2011, my Department has engaged two retired public servants to act as civilian drivers to the Minister of State, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D. These appointments are temporary, unestablished positions in the Civil Service on a fixed-term contract basis. No further retired public servants have been rehired as employees by my Department, the Defence Forces or the bodies...

Written Answers — Business of Dáil: Business of Dáil (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. Following a Government Decision to (a) lay a Memorandum of Understanding for the Austro-German Battlegroup before Dáil Éireann, and, to (b) the moving of a resolution in Dáil Éireann seeking its approval, my Department notified the Journal Office of the intention to move the motion. This notification issued on 10 November, 2011 and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, the Government decided to maintain the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. In response to the revised strength ceiling, a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force, has been initiated. This will encompass a reduction in the number of Army Brigades from the current three to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: There are currently a total of 902 military personnel and 35 civilians based at Custume Barracks Athlone giving a total of 937. Based on the numbers of military and civilian personnel currently based in Cavan and Mullingar Barracks this could rise to 1,161 military personnel and 54 civilians once the closure of those barracks are complete.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: It was not possible to provide the detailed information sought by the Deputy in the time available. My Department is currently seeking to compile the relevant data and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: When the Government took the decision to close a number of Military Barracks, I asked my Department to enter into discussions with other Government Departments, Local Authorities, State Agencies and community groups regarding the possible purchase of the properties to benefit the local community as a whole but with particular emphasis on job creation measures. In this regard officials from my...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Did Deputy Martin ever understand the-----

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Game, set and match.

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: You started the war process.

Written Answers — Custody Rights: Custody Rights (26 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Under section 11 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, an unmarried father of a child, whether or not he is a guardian of the child, may apply to the court for an order giving directions on any question affecting the welfare of the child including the question of access to the child. In making such orders the court has to regard the welfare of the child as the first and paramount...

Written Answers — Independent International Commission on Decommissioning: Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (26 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 to 174, inclusive, together. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning was jointly established following an agreement of August 1997 between the Irish and British Governments to supervise the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons and explosive materials. The Commission was dissolved by Orders made by both Governments on 30 March 2011....

Written Answers — Parental Leave: Parental Leave (26 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Ireland is fully compliant with the requirements of the current EU Directive on Maternity Leave and I have no proposals to transfer any portion of existing maternity leave for mothers as suggested by the Deputy. However I would make the point that my Department is currently working on the transposition of the EU Parental Leave Directive which provides for 18 weeks of parental leave for both...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (26 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are approximately 8,000 vetting applications in the course of being processed and that the average processing time at the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) now is 2 weeks approximately. This is a substantial improvement on this time last year when there were 55,000 cases on hand and processing took 11 weeks. This processing time can,...