Results 15,381-15,400 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Secretary General of my Department was appointed to the Board of the Institute of Public Administration in June 2010 and this appointment will end on his retirement from Office at the end of this month. He has received not any remuneration arising from the appointment.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: Subhead D of the Defence Vote includes payments for Reserve Defence Force (RDF), training, gratuities, allowances and also includes grants paid into unit funds. The cost of the RDF as charged to Subhead D for 2010 was €4,014,369 and the provision for 2011 is €4,386,000. The following table shows costs relating to the RDF as charged to the Defence Vote for 2009 and 2010. The table...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Reserve Defence Force's primary role is to support the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in its contingency defence roles in an emergency situation. In peacetime, the main function of the Reserve centres on training and preparing for these contingency roles. Over the past number of years, the Defence Forces have met operational requirements from within the capacity and resources of the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces are primarily deployed on overseas missions in support of international peace and security under UN mandates. On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together. Emergency Planning in this country is structured around the 'Lead Department' principle, which means that the Department that is responsible for an activity in normal conditions will maintain that responsibility in an emergency. It is a model that is followed in many countries and it means that the lead Department is responsible for...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Emergency Powers (No. 362) Order, 1945 provided for members of the Defence Forces who had deserted or absented themselves without leave during the Emergency period commencing on 3 September 1939, for a period of not less than 180 days, to stand dismissed from the Defence Forces for desertion in a time of national emergency. In common with armies throughout the world, desertion from...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Department is engaged in ongoing capital building and maintenance programmes designed to modernise and enhance the living, training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. The capital building programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings. The...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Management Advisory Committee (MAC) meets on a weekly basis in the Department of Defence and is chaired by the Secretary General. I have had two formal meetings with the MAC in my Department on 20 May and 27 June. I will continue to chair meetings with the MAC on a monthly basis. I liaise with the Secretary General and other members of the MAC on a daily basis, or as necessary.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Department of Defence does not pay rent or hold leases in respect of the office accommodation occupied by the agencies under its aegis. The Army Pensions Board is located in St. Bricin's Hospital. The Defence Forces Canteen Board is located in McKee Barracks. Both locations form part of the Defence property portfolio and the question of rent does not arise. In the context of settling...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2011)

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. There are no Secretaries General sitting on the above boards.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank all Senators who have contributed to this debate. This is only the start of a debate on a very important issue. I return to what I said on Second Stage, namely, these are two reforms of importance but they are small compared with the very substantial insolvency Bill which is being prepared in my Department and which we are required to publish in the first quarter of 2012 under the...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The amendment proposes a reduction of the period before application for an order for discharge can be made from five to three years. It makes no distinction regarding individuals who might have recklessly traded or led extraordinarily or foolishly lavish lifestyles compared with their neighbours and, as a consequence, did not pay their taxes. There is no distinction in the legislation or in...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: This amendment provides that section 39 of the Bill in relation to court matters will not require a commencement order. It is likely that further amendments to section 1 will be required on Report Stage to ensure we include all provisions that do not require a commencement order. This will be necessary as a number of further amendments are being contemplated in regard to existing Parts of...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: This provision is a big step forward. I recall saying from the Opposition side of the Dáil over a number of years that it was of crucial importance that victims of human trafficking should have access to legal assistance and advice. The Bill puts this in statutory form in a manner that also allows us to comply with international obligations. I thank Senators for their contributions. The...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to discuss amendments Nos. 2 and 3 together. I thank the Senator for proposing the amendment. I disagree in principle with absolutely nothing he said. Amendment No. 2 proposes to add a new subparagraph (d) to the provision which makes reference to the purposes of benefitting the community in the context of the definition of voluntary work. I am advised that the amendments are...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: On the latter issue, this is an area about which I am particularly concerned. We had difficulties last winter when some people were worried that if they voluntarily cleared the paths outside their houses and someone later slipped there, they might be sued. Some shopkeepers in retail outlets across the country were vigorous in trying to tidy up areas adjacent to their shops while others did...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: These are technical amendments to section 2(1) of the Private Security Services Act 2004. Amendment No. 4 is a drafting amendment to improve the layout of the section and was advised by the Parliamentary Counsel. Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 and paragraphs (b) and (c) of amendment No. 7 replace the reference to "for remuneration" with "in the course of a business, trade or profession". This...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The alleged scandalous conduct revealed by a certain newspaper in the United Kingdom would, under our legislation, fall under telecommunications legislation and would be dealt with in that context. I will not pretend to be an expert in the law in those areas, but I understand that type of conduct, where a media outlet conducts itself in that fashion, may well give rise to criminal offences...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I understand the section allows for the appointment of individuals as inspectors, subject to specific contractual conditions. It would be for the authority to ensure compliance with those conditions and that there is proper compliance with the law. That is the essential position. For the Senator's information, the authority currently has four full-time inspectors who are appointed from...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I agree entirely with the Senator that all of those issues are issues of concern and importance. We are all aware of unsavoury and unnecessary incidents that have occurred on occasion. We have read about such incidents in court proceedings that have ensued. There is a responsibility on the authority to ensure it deals with the inspections appropriately and that appropriate people are...