Results 61-80 of 84 for going forward speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: ...the fuel situation as it applies to the Irish Infantry Battalion in Goz Beida has essentially been resolved. Sufficient stocks are now in place in Camp Ciara which will provide for the Unit's needs going forward. In addition, extra fuel is stored in the new UN fuel farm adjacent to the Irish camp. The UN also have a facility to fly in quantities of fuel at any stage. The Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: ...operating effectively to underpin the support/sustain part of the logistical operational process in Chad. The full spectrum of logistical support will be maintained at the required level of service going forward. As the House will be aware, the International Criminal Court (ICC), issued a warrant on 4 March 2009 for the arrest of Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, President of Sudan, for war...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: ...6m in this year's Estimates provision as a down payment on an LTAV contract. The results of the tender competition will dictate the overall cost of the project. Three vehicles were selected to go forward to the trials stage of the tender competition. They were the RG 32M from BAE Systems, the LMV from Iveco Defence Vehicles and the Eagle 4 from Mowag. Trials were conducted on a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: ...in this year's Estimates provision as a down payment on an LTAV contract. The results of the tender competition will dictate the overall cost of the project. Three vehicles have been selected to go forward to the trials stage of the tender competition. They are the RG 32M from BAE Systems, the LMV from Iveco Defence Vehicles and the Eagle 4 from Mowag. A standard vehicle from each...

Defence Forces Reserve. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: ...to a rigorous attitude towards the removal of non-active members from the rolls, which was not present previously. Deputy Deenihan's budgetary figure of €10 million is approximately correct. Going from memory, a reason for the declines in 2007 and 2008 was that the numbers coming forward did not necessitate that level of funding. Those figures comprised all of the expenditure incurred....

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: ...The Bill is being presented against the backdrop of more modest growth in the Irish economy. As is well known, this reflects the significant reduction in house-building activity we are currently going through in terms of adjusting towards more sustainable levels of activity in this sector. In addition, it also reflects a more challenging international economic climate. On foot of these...

Despatch of Defence Forces Personnel: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Willie O'Dea: ...from time to time. I thank the Members for agreeing to take this motion today on the planned deployment of a contingent of the Defence Forces to Chad and the Central African Republic and I look forward to a constructive and positive debate in this regard. As the House is aware, under the Defence Acts, the deployment of a contingent of the Defence Forces on an overseas mission requires...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reform: Defence Forces Reform (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: ...of the Permanent Defence Force is as follows: Redress of Wrongs — Male: Complaints of Bullying/ Harassment nature under Redress of Wrongs Procedures Year No. of Complaints Upheld Not Upheld Ongoing 1996 Nil Nil Nil Nil 1997 4 Nil 4 Nil 1998 2 Nil 2 Nil 1999 3 1 2 Nil 2000 4 Nil 4 Nil 2001 6 Nil 6 Nil 2002 6 1 5 Nil 2003 6 Nil 6 Nil 2004 6 3 2 1 2005 5 Nil 2 3 2006 3 Nil Nil...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I look forward to discovering the results of the research. I wrote to the organisations and asked for their suggestions on how to attract more women into the Defence Forces. The research will go deeper than this aspect. Women who have served in the Defence Forces will be interviewed about their experience of life there and women who have not served in the Defence Forces will be interviewed...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (11 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: ...on the current operation and future plans for Operation Althea was made by General Sir John Reith, the current operational commander. While recognising that the mission will be scaled down going into 2007, member States agreed that any drawdown of forces must be event rather than time driven. The meeting also discussed the EU Support mission to AMIS, the African Union mission in...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Gormley may refer to terms such as "authorised", "endorsed", "supported", "approved" and "otherwise sanctioned", but under this legislation there can be no deployment whatever of Irish troops on peacekeeping missions unless there is a specific resolution of the United Nations which will give rise to that. The Deputy mentioned Iraq. The argument put forward by the US Government, as I...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: ...as part of an international United Nations force. However, members of the Permanent Defence Force have also been despatched for many other reasons, including carrying out official duties, undergoing training and representing the Defence Forces at sporting events. This Bill will provide for such deployments, with the approval and under the authority of the Government, particularly the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I thank all the Senators who spoke for their constructive contributions to the debate and the interest they have taken in the Bill. I look forward to a similarly constructive debate in the other House. I thank Senators also for their kind remarks regarding the work our Defence Forces undertake overseas. Wherever they are, our troops serve with professionalism, dedication, courage and...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: ...That is the intention. I take his point as regards what the Secretary General of NATO is reported to have said on building up a military capability, etc. If one looks at the Helsinki 2010 headline goal, the ambition will be to have two battle groups on standby simultaneously, for each six-month period. Our two battle groups will consist of a grand total of 3,000 troops, which hardly...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: ...the State as part of an international United Nations force. However, members of the Permanent Defence Force have also been despatched for other reasons, such as carrying out official duties, undergoing training, representing the Defence Forces at sporting events, etc. This Bill will provide for such deployments, with the approval and under the authority of the Government and the Minister...

Bullying in the Workplace. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Without wanting to be flippant about the matter, it is analogous to crime in Limerick. When a crime of a particular nature takes place in Limerick, everyone is keen to talk about it. The same crime would not attract the same attention in Cork, Waterford, Galway, Blessington or elsewhere. It is basically a sexy story. If someone says "Oh my goodness, I was in the Irish Army, was bullied...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (13 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: One of the major concerns relates to when there is some pattern of behaviour that should be investigated, yet people are gripped by fear and cannot come forward. How is that type of situation investigated? What Senator Brian Hayes says is compelling. It would be much more compelling, however, if this debate were taking place before the publication of the Doyle report, Challenge of the...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (13 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I take on board what has been said by Senators about the potential reluctance of people to come forward and make a complaint. We have engaged in a number of initiatives to deal with that into which I will go if Senators wish. In regard to this amendment, it is an essential principle of the legislation that, subject to the provisions of the Bill, the Defence Forces ombudsman may investigate an...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Second Stage (Resumed). (6 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: ...agreed with both representative organisations. PDFORRA and RACO have been widely consulted on almost each line of the Bill, which reflects the agreement these representative bodies made with the Government. Senator Paddy Burke raised the question of coercing people to go abroad. Senator Henry and a number of other Senators were also concerned about this aspect. I take Senator Mansergh's...

Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (20 Feb 2004)

Willie O'Dea: ...made by the working group on the review and improvement of the maternity protection legislation. The working group which reported in January 2001, was set up in accordance with commitments in the Government's An Action Programme for the Millennium and the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The working group, which was chaired by my Department, included representatives from all pillars...