Results 14,601-14,620 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

National Emergency Plan (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can only say to the Deputy that I believe it is important that we properly plan and that we have in place the systems necessary to respond when emergencies arise, but we also have to remember that on occasion emergencies occur that may not have been anticipated and it is necessary to move personnel or vehicles to the location where an event occurs. There may be some timeframe involved or...

Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware of the restrictions on recruitment to the public service generally arising from the necessity to restore balance to the public finances. In the context of this challenge, the Government intends to maintain the operational efficiency of the Defence Forces to the greatest extent possible, as I mentioned earlier. To this end, targeted recruitment was carried out in 2010...

Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I reiterate it is not clear yet how many may retire during the course of this year. I can assure the Deputy that, in so far as retirements do take place, we will ensure that the necessary officers may be appointed to replace anyone who may retire at officer level. In so far as anyone may retire at private level or other levels within the Defence Forces, obviously this is an operational...

Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: In that context, we are of course trying to ensure that, within the defence establishment, we keep within our financial envelope this year and within the restrictions that we have to operate within. There will be some further appointments made before the end of the year where currently there are gaps, but I cannot guarantee to the Deputy that all the gaps will necessarily be filled. There...

Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: In the context of recruitment, it is likely to cover the area of the Naval Service and the Army at this stage. The exact numbers have to be clarified and agreed. I am happy to keep the Deputy informed when decisions are made without the necessity of the Deputy tabling a Dáil question on the matter. I will do the same to facilitate Deputy O'Brien, who is spokesperson for Sinn Féin. It is...

Defence Forces Deployment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The EU training mission, or EUTM as it is known, in Somalia - there is an abbreviated version of every mission that people are engaged in - to train the security forces of the Somali Transitional Federal Government was launched on 7 April 2010 in implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 1872, 2009 and 1910, 2010. These resolutions urge the international community and organisations...

Defence Forces Deployment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Government has been following and responding to the increasingly difficult situation in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region for many months and allocated more than €9 million in emergency assistance. On a per capita basis, Ireland's contribution is one of the most significant responses to the crisis. Funding from Ireland has been used directly by the United Nations, the Red Cross...

Defence Forces Deployment (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: We are essentially training troops who, we hope, based on the ethos and principles we bring to the mission, will have a degree of insight in carrying out their duties when they return to Mogadishu. It is hoped this will prove to be a valuable contribution in achieving a degree of stability, but, of course, no one can guarantee this.

Defence Forces Reserve (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, a value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force commenced in February 2010. Significant progress has been made on the review and in the normal course of events I would have expected it to have been completed and that we would be commencing the implementation of the review findings. The Government is fully engaged in making the difficult corrections necessary to...

Defence Forces Reserve (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am keenly aware of the concerns expressed by some of the members of the Reserve Defence Force. I attended the annual meeting and used my time to engage with members of the force and discuss their concerns. I am, of course, aware of the importance of maintaining the Reserve Defence Force and its role will be one of the issues to be addressed in the White Paper. I believe I would have told...

Defence Forces Reserve (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have a figure in my head for the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force, but I do not have the exact figure in the file. I do not want to give a figure to the Deputy without ensuring it is correct. I propose to furnish it to him later. There may be a difference between the formal number of members of the Reserve Defence Force and those who are actively engaged in training with it....

Defence Forces Review (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised that at this time the Defence Forces retain the capacity to undertake the tasks laid down by the Government both at home and overseas, as clearly evidenced by the numbers currently overseas, as detailed in response to earlier questions. As I seem to be saying repetitively this afternoon, the Government is undertaking a comprehensive review of expenditure and my Department has...

Defence Forces Review (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I hope the Deputy will not take anything more from my responding "Yes" to what he said. I agree with what he said. It is important we maintain the capabilities of the Defence Forces, the numbers for which are close to 9,500, to reflect the numbers in the 1970s. It is important to ensure we can meet our international obligations and that the Defence Forces can adequately respond to assist...

Defence Forces Review (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As I said on 31 August, there are 1,005 personnel within the Naval Service. I would have mentioned in a reply to Deputy Calleary that, in the context of possible additional recruitment this year, I envisaged that a portion would apply to the Naval Service. I am conscious of its obligations and extended jurisdiction or remit. It is important that we bear this in mind in addressing the issue...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As stated earlier, Ireland is contributing 524 Defence Forces personnel to 11 missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are deployed, are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, with 454 personnel, and the NATO-led international security presence, KFOR, in Kosovo, with 12 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I assure the Deputy that is the case. I mentioned earlier that we have up to 850 members of the Defence Forces who could be deployed abroad. I was merely making the case that as we have in excess of 450 in Lebanon, we do not have the capacity to send a similar large number abroad. Clearly, if we receive a request from the United Nations to participate in other missions or to deploy small...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am anxious to ensure, in the difficult financial circumstances in which we find ourselves, that the Defence Forces retain their operational capabilities to contribute to international peacekeeping missions and to participate in providing assistance to the civil power when that is necessary, such as during the type of climatic emergencies we saw in the past 12 months. It is part of my...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: And Deputy Naughten, whom I did not intend to leave off the list.

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I referred previously to the fact that more than 200 Defence Forces personnel were recruited during the course of this year. It is vital to ensure a degree of age balance. There is intake into the Defence Forces, bearing in mind the number of retirements that occur. A definitive decision has not been taken nor the numbers finalised, but I think it likely that there will be some additional...

Defence Forces Strength (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 August 2011, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,513 comprising 7,722 Army, 786 Air Corps and 1,005 Naval Service personnel. The approved employment control framework for the Permanent Defence Force is based on a figure of 10,000 all ranks, appropriately configured across the...