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Other Questions: Defence Forces Training (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the military authorities that they are satisfied that existing Army training techniques and equipment are up-to-date in all respects. Personnel are trained and provided with all the necessary skills to the standards required to ensure that they can carry out all day-to-day roles assigned to them. This is clearly evidenced by the roles engaged in by the Defence Forces not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Funding (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy knows, my Department is engaged in an ongoing building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under the building programme there has been considerable capital investment at the Curragh Camp in recent years. Between 2008 and 2013 my Department spent more than €11.7...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Funding (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: I agree that there is a need for continuing investment. This is a very important matter in the context of the Defence Forces. It will not have escaped the Deputy's notice that the State has been in great financial difficulties for the past three years and we have been obliged to substantially reduce our expenditure, both current and capital. There has been a decreasing envelope of capital...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Funding (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: I dealt only with a small number of issues when replying to the Deputy's original question. The largest investment my Department is making at present is in the two new naval vessels that are to be commissioned. As the Deputy may be aware, one of those vessels, LE Samuel Beckett, was delivered to Haulbowline on Wednesday last. I visited the facility there on Friday and was shown around the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Properties (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for her question. As she stated, my Department recently undertook an assessment of vacant former married quarter properties in the Curragh Camp with a view as to their potential for future military use as single living-in accommodation. The properties in question comprise a terrace of 16 houses and are typical of the type of former married quarters accommodation vacant in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: There the Deputy goes again. The individual to whom he refers was appointed following the holding of a competition which I had no hand or part in influencing. He was recommended following the outcome of that competition and so appointed. That is the end of it. As I said, the individual in question was formerly a military tribunal judge, yet the Deputy is suggesting that he is not an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: An Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, ATCP, which in practice means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. There is ongoing and close liaison between An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy might have been a fan of Osama bin Laden but I am not sure what relevance he has to this matter. I have given her the information that is available to me. There is no further information I can add in response to the question she raised. In the context of this particular flight, my information is simply that An Garda Síochána requested the assistance of the Defence...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: It is a matter of particular concern to members of the European Union that Russian troops have been exercising close to the Ukrainian border. I do not know whether that is the type of military aggression the Deputy has in mind. She also made reference to Syria. I do not understand what relevance this particular flight landing in Shannon Airport has to the dreadful tragedy being played out...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am not aware of the problems the Deputy has said have emerged. If there are particular problems he wishes to bring to my attention, I will ensure they are addressed. As he knows, a three brigade Army structure was adopted in the 1990s when the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was set at approximately 11,500 personnel. This structure was retained when the White Paper on Defence in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: What the Deputy is suggesting is that we have in place an architecture, but that we do not have the numbers that would allow it to make sense. The architecture the Deputy's colleagues had in place while in government was based on a strength of 11,500 for a three brigade structure. When I entered government and assumed the position of Minister for Defence, there was a strength of 9,500....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, the programme for Government made a clear commitment to the introduction of whistleblower protection legislation. In this regard, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, published the Protected Disclosures Bill in July 2013. It is anticipated that the legislation will be enacted during this Dáil term. The Bill has as its main...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am satisfied that is the case and find it regrettable that the Deputy should raise any issue concerning the current Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. The person concerned was a judge in the military court, adjudicated on issues and there was never any question that he did so other than independently and objectively and with fairness. As the Deputy is aware, the issue he has raised has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Department of Defence has civil and military elements, with Defence Forces headquarters being the military element. The Chief of Staff who is head of Defence Forces headquarters is my principal military adviser, while the Secretary General of the Department of Defence is my principal defence policy adviser. Military command is vested directly in the general officers commanding Army...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. Significant progress has been made by the Military Authorities in addressing gaps between male and female participation in the Defence Forces, with an increase of 23% of female participation in the PDF...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am not aware of the media Reports to which the Deputy refers. However, I can state that there are no plans to develop voluntary housing schemes for overholders in the Curragh. The position regarding overholders has been outlined on numerous occasions. The Department of Defence does not have a role in the provision of housing accommodation for those who are not members of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 24 together. As of 04 May 2014, Ireland is contributing approximately 410 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks Closures (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: During the term of this Government four barracks have been closed – Kickham Barracks Clonmel, O’ Neill Barracks Cavan, Columb Barracks Mullingar and Mitchell Barracks Castlebar. The closures were effective from March 2012. Agreement in principle has been reached for the sale of Kickham Barracks to South Tipperary County Council. To date a total of €101,703.60 has been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: A number of Israeli companies have successfully tendered for and have been awarded contracts by the Department of Defence for the provision of defensive equipment to the Defence Forces as a result of competitive tender competitions. This is not a new development and has been the situation for many years. The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Paper on Defence (7 May 2014)

Alan Shatter: Arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 Permanent Defence Force personnel. The three Brigade structure then in place had originally been designed in the 1990s, when the strength ceiling of the PDF was 11,500 personnel. Clearly, at a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel, this...

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