Results 13,961-13,980 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Civil Defence (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: At the Cabinet meeting on 12 July the Government approved a proposal to begin drafting legislation to transfer the functions of the Civil Defence Board back into the Department of Defence. The Heads of the Civil Defence (Repeal) Bill were subsequently agreed by Government on 30 August last. The Bill is currently being drafted and it is anticipated it will be published in early 2012. If...

Civil Defence (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: That is central to my thinking and there is no question of that occurring. We are simply abolishing a quango that has not proved to have a necessary function. The connection between the Civil Defence and local authorities will continue and will not be affected in any shape or form. I join the Deputy in paying tribute to the Civil Defence. On behalf of the Government I thank all members of...

Civil Defence (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to reassure the Deputy that it is crucial that members of the Civil Defence continue to be employed for their knowledge of local community, their involvement with local communities and for the interconnectivity between them and local authorities. I intend that is how matters will continue and there will be nothing in the legislation that will give cause for concern in that context.

Emergency Response Agencies (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: While the Defence Forces are not a principal response agency, as defined in the framework for major emergency management, they provide assistance in an Aid to the Civil Authority, ATCA, role under the multi-agency framework. Representation on the Government task force, by both my Department and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest co-ordination and co-operation with the appropriate lead...

Emergency Response Agencies (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will know, the Defence Forces hold a wide range of engineering and transport plant and equipment for military purposes and all such plant and equipment suitable for use in emergencies and severe weather situations is made available as the need arises. The type of plant and equipment suitable for use includes: a 40 tonne crane; a heavy duty fork-lift; tracked and wheeled...

Emergency Response Agencies (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Air Corps has certain capabilities in that context. Recently, I visited Baldonnel and I had the opportunity to look at the helicopters that are available and talk to some of those in the Air Corps who have medical expertise and who engage in air and sea rescues and who also have the capacity to engage in the activity Deputy Naughten outlined. In an emergency, they would be available to...

Daylight Saving Time (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to make a statement on this matter. I understand that it is an issue in which he has a keen personal interest. Our present time arrangements allow for summer time to begin at 1 a.m. GMT on the last Sunday in March and to end at 1 a.m. on the last Sunday in October every year. These arrangements are set out in the Winter Time Order 2001. This order...

Daylight Saving Time (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I would welcome the committee engaging with this issue. It would be helpful if it advanced the initial discussions in which an official of my Department engaged with the sponsor of the Bill in the House of Commons. The issue is complex. First, it is in our interest that our time zone remain the same as that of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. It would give rise to considerable...

Army Barracks (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. As of now, no decision has been made by Government on the future of any military installation. However, the closure of barracks will shortly be considered by Government as part of the comprehensive review of expenditure. Various commissions, reports and studies dating back to the 1990s identified barrack closures as a fundamental...

Army Barracks (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Later Questions deal with the President's visit to our troops in Lebanon. I accompanied the President on her visit to Lebanon. It was a worthwhile and informative visit. I do not want to take up the time allocated to this question to address that issue other than to say it was a great pleasure to accompany the President and Senator McAleese on that visit and to see at firsthand the...

Army Barracks (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: My primary obligation as Minister for Defence, while remaining aware of the impact of barracks in local communities, is to ensure that we use the resources provided to the Defence Forces to the best extent possible. Bearing that in mind, I must make decisions based on the importance of retaining men and women, the number of which has now fallen below 9,500, or buildings in the Defence...

Army Barracks (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for his question and for his courtesy when we met the delegation from Clonmel. I am acutely conscious that the closure of barracks is disruptive both for the men and women based in a particular barracks and for family members. I am under no illusion in that regard. It is disruptive and creates inconvenience and difficulty and I am conscious of that. I am also conscious...

Army Barracks (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: To take Deputy Calleary's question, I cannot recall advice given by the military authorities to the Minister for Defence being published in the manner in which he states. There are clear security issues involved in that type of matter and it would be inappropriate and a dangerous precedent to publish that type of advice. I believe the Deputy knows that. Every barracks in the country has...

Defence Forces Personnel (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: As Deputy Calleary knows, the defence organisation has a proud record of reform and modernisation and the number of Defence Forces' personnel, civilian employees and civil servants within the Department of Defence has reduced while capabilities and services have improved. This is in contrast to the broader public sector where overall numbers increased during the past decade. This afternoon,...

Defence Forces Personnel (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: For the same reasons given yesterday when we discussed the estimate in respect of the Department of Justice and Equality, I do not know the exact numbers. People retire in various circumstances, but the figure that I provided the Deputy the last time we dealt with numbers within the Defence Forces was just in excess of 9,500. As the Deputy will see, we have now dipped below that number. I...

Overseas Missions (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: No requirements or obligations are placed upon the Department of Defence or the Defence Forces in respect of Ireland's involvement in either the European Union or the European Defence Agency, EDA. All participation in these areas is of a voluntary nature. In no way can any requirements be placed on a member state in terms of participation in any particular training, projects or material and...

Overseas Missions (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can give the Deputy the figure. The costs incurred by Ireland in respect of our participation in the EDA over the three-year period has been €1.185 million in total, comprising €585,000 in 2009, €316,000 in 2010 and €284,000 to date in 2011. The Deputy might note that the 2009 figure includes a contribution of €240,000 to a joint investment programme on force protection. On 27...

Army Barracks (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under this programme, there has been considerable capital investment in Custume Barracks. Recent major projects include the provision of additional living-in accommodation, construction of a...

Order of Business (26 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Fianna Fáil could not save Ireland never mind Europe.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that at present, there are around 50,000 applications in the course of being processed and that the average processing time for vetting applications received at the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) is approximately 9 weeks. While there can be seasonal fluctuations, the average processing time of 9 weeks is a significant improvement on the average...