Results 241-260 of 4,808 for speaker:Alan Shatter in 'Dáil debates'

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: As well as announcing yesterday a statutory inquiry into these matters the Government also announced that it will establish an independent Garda authority, while maintaining appropriate democratic accountability to the Oireachtas. This will be a hugely significant development in the governance and oversight of the Garda Síochána, a development previously rejected by the main party...

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I look forward to addressing a variety of issues that arise out of the publication of the report of the Garda Inspectorate later today.

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: -----followed by the usual dosage of contrived outrage, something we see again this morning. The simple truth is GSOC did not furnish the report mentioned to me and I am advised that it did not furnish it to my departmental officials nor bring it to the Department's attention. GSOC, no doubt, can confirm this. Because of the background to the GSOC report, GSOC had no obligation under the...

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: These are the facts as I have been informed of them, but of course there are many questions which need to be answered. That is why the Government has decided that it is necessary to establish the facts and has announced that there will be a statutory inquiry. It is absolutely right that all these matters should be independently examined and I will not hesitate to seek further inquiries into...

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: It would be refreshing if, for once, Members opposite could restrain themselves from engaging in the usual party political point scoring and deal with the substance of issues.

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: We are dealing here with a system of recording phone calls into and out of some Garda stations over a period of up to 30 years. As with other matters under investigation, these are issues which far predate my tenure as Minister for Justice and Equality. This issue, like others, is one that existed throughout the lifetime of the previous Government and, indeed, we now know the recording...

Matters relating to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I will again start by paying tribute to Mr. Martin Callinan on his retirement as Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, in which he had a long and distinguished service. He dedicated his career to the fight against crime and has a record of which he can justly be proud. I express my sincere thanks to him for his commitment and service to the State. In its statement yesterday the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Of course, that is one of the varied and numerous issues to be considered in the context of the Defence Force White Paper which will look to the future, to the State's needs and to the capabilities of the Defence Forces. It will look to the operational requirements, both in the context of serving abroad and at home and in providing an assistance to the civil power. A key issue is...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: We have been able to maintain the resources and equipment of the Defence Forces at a very high level to meet the operation requirements of the Defences Forces, both in the context of the Army, navy and Air Corps. In the context of the consideration of the purchase of any further assets for the Air Corps, that is a matter based on looking at what is contained ultimately in the White Paper on...

Other Questions: European Defence Capabilities (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces liaise with other armed forces personnel throughout the European Union through a range of fora. These include: NATO Partnership for Peace, EU military staff, EU military committee in Brussels and European Defence Agency. Ireland joined Partnership for Peace, PfP, on 1 December 1999. The primary aim of our PfP participation is to enhance the Defence Forces'...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I understand we have more missions currently serving overseas than at any time previously in the history of the State. We are engaged concurrently in 14 different missions. On 22 January 2013, the Council of the European Union extended the mandate of EUTM Somalia to March 2015. This third mandate implied a significant change of focus for the mission, with the inclusion of strategic,...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I announced the launch of a new recruitment campaign for enlisted personnel in both the Permanent and the Reserve Defence Forces on Friday, 7 March 2014. The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel and the current campaign will enable this to be achieved. Recruitment of personnel to the Army, Naval Service and Air...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The mission has changed significantly since locating in Mogadishu, having initially been in Uganda. We are engaged in 14 overseas missions, including EUTM Somalia, and given Ireland's commitment to this mission to date in order to support the smooth handover between mission commanders, we granted approval to retain the Defence Forces personnel in their current appointments until the end of...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: If, in the context of aeroplanes landing at Shannon Airport during the course of this year, the Deputy can provide additional information which indicates that the arrangements and agreements relating to such landings are being violated or that armaments are being carried when they should not be, I will have the matter examined. I am open to correction, but he seems to be operating on the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have not driven anybody onto a runway. It would be very unwise to drive people to such a place.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have an extraordinarily long reply and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will have to stop me halfway through it. However, I will do my best. EUTM Somalia which was launched on 7 April 2010 has been deployed to provide military training for members of the Somali national armed forces so as to increase their capability to ensure the sovereignty and security of the Somali state. The mission is...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The incident to which the Deputy refers was contrary to normal conditions that apply to foreign military aircraft overflying or landing in Ireland. It is down to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade that this incident was raised at the highest level with the US Embassy by senior officials in his Department. The US Embassy expressed regret over the incident and...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have no knowledge - nor has Deputy Daly - of any aircraft landing in Shannon that was carrying the munitions to Iraq that she mentioned. If the Deputy has information that could confirm that she is very welcome to furnish it to me. I do not jump to assumptions regarding these matters. I cannot add to what I have said on this matter. For many years it has been the case that US aircraft...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Fatalities (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: It is not necessary to give me a summary of the issues involved because I have read in full the concerns raised, the critique and the questions asked about some individuals not being questioned or given the opportunity to discuss matters. However, having read the report on file, I do not see how, so many years further on, a further discussion would add greater enlightenment to these events,...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Operations (25 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 138 together. An Garda Síochána has 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 for the civil power, ATCP, which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. There is...