Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Defence the arrangements he will put in place to ensure his active engagement with the management of the Department of Defence; where his private office will be located and whether he will ensure that he spends a reasonable period of time in the headquarters of the Department of Defence [5211/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been appointed by the Taoiseach as both the Minister for Justice and Equality and as the Minister for Defence. As a Minister with two separate portfolios, I intend retaining a private office in the Department of Justice & Equality in Dublin and a separate private office in the Department of Defence headquarters in Newbridge, Co Kildare. The Deputy can be assured that I will fully engage with both of my portfolios. I had met with the majority of the staff in Newbridge within 48 hours of my appointment and I have put in place arrangements to meet regularly with officials and to attend at the Department. The Deputy might also be interested to know that I attended a Cadet Commissioning Ceremony in the Curragh on the first day following my appointment and met with the Chief of Staff and other senior military officers.