Results 8,041-8,060 of 12,701 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces have improved in every respect since 2000 through the implementation of the White Paper. This represents a significant public service success story and has been acknowledged by both the Taoiseach and myself. Arising from the White Paper on Defence, we have created a modern well-equipped Defence Forces capable of meeting the needs of Government and the public and ensuring...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 35, 36, 42, 46, 141, 142 and 143 together. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. The recent Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended that the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The level of expenditure on Defence in any particular country is influenced by a variety of factors, including that country's political and security environment, its history, demography and economy. The most recent available statistics on Defence expenditure in the EU indicate that in 2007 Defence spending in Ireland, as a percentage of GDP, was the lowest in the E.U. at 0.53%. In 2008...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Unit No. of PDF Cadre No. in Receipt of an RDF Allowance 1 Southern Brigade RDF HQ 9 8* 31 Res Artillery Regiment 12 12 31 Res Cavalry Squadron 3 3 Sp Coy 32 Res Infantry Battalion 5 5 * Of the 9 PDF Cadre servicing 1 S Bde RDF HQ, 1 Private is attached long term to HQ and, as such, is not in receipt of an...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Over my term of Office as Minister for Defence, I have visited all the major overseas operations where contingents of the Defence Forces are serving. In 2008, I conducted four visits to our overseas missions in Kosovo (2 visits), Chad and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In February this year, I again visited the mission in Chad, our largest overseas operation. My objective in visiting the missions...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the Irish Times article relating to a report by Amnesty International on violence against refugee women in eastern Chad; I have not received nor am I aware of any other reports in this matter. I understand that Amnesty International Ireland has contacted my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in regard to the above-mentioned report. The Government shares the concern of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision of December 2003 in relation to decentralisation provides for the transfer of the Department of Defence and of Defence Force Headquarters (DFHQ) to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and the Curragh, Co Kildare, respectively. My Department's Dublin-based civil servants, together with about 55 military personnel, will relocate to Newbridge. DFHQ will relocate to the Curragh....

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The mission of the Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to promote the Irish horse abroad through participation in international competitions. The school has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad, it has successfully promoted...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25, 34 and 49 together. Although, I am aware of the magazine article to which the deputy refers I am restricted in the manner in which I may comment on its contents. As Minister for Defence, I have responsibility for enacting any legislation in respect of the Irish Red Cross Society. However, I have no function in the day-to-day administration of the Irish...

Written Answers — Air Accident Investigations: Air Accident Investigations (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 33 together. I would like to begin by expressing my sincere sympathy to the families and colleagues of Captain Derek Furniss and Cadet David Jevens who lost their lives in this tragic accident involving an Air Corps PC-9 in Cornamona, Co. Galway on the 12 October, 2009. The Preliminary Report into this fatal air accident was published by the Air...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the context of the production of the first White Paper on Defence (2000 - 2010), the issue of deploying the Air Corps assets on peace support operations was considered. It was decided that, given the resources of the Air Corps and the demands on their services at home, it would not be feasible for them to participate beyond the domestic environment. Individual members of the Air Corps will...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Properties: Defence Forces Properties (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy will be aware, a programme of rationalising and disposing of property which is surplus to the requirements of the Defence Forces has been on-going for a number of years. In that regard the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme noted that my Department has identified 33 properties for disposal. Any properties to be disposed of will take...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: While Naval Service vessels have a nominal lifespan of around 30 years, three ships in the current flotilla will have completed at least 34 years of service before they are likely to be replaced – namely LE Emer commissioned in 1978, LE Aoife commissioned in 1979 and LE Aisling commissioned in 1980. Naval Service vessels are required to operate in the harsh and unforgiving waters of the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Supplementary welfare allowance provides a basic weekly allowance to eligible people who have little or no income. People with low incomes may also qualify for a weekly supplement payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme to meet certain special needs. The circumstances surrounding an application for supplementary welfare allowance and the payment of the allowance is a...

Written Answers — Hearing Impairment Claims: Hearing Impairment Claims (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A total of 16,807 hearing loss claims have been received from current and former members of the Defence Forces in respect of loss of hearing allegedly caused during their military service. 16,139 claims have been disposed of to date. €288.7 million has been paid in respect of hearing loss claims including plaintiffs' legal costs of €100.2 million. The plaintiffs' legal costs include...

Written Answers — Army Operations: Army Operations (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with an Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Gardaí as required. Requests for aid to the civil power are normally made by a member of an Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team respond when a...

Written Answers — Courts of Inquiry: Courts of Inquiry (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A Formation Accident Investigation Team (FAIT) was established by the General Officer Commanding the Southern Brigade to investigate the incident. A FAIT is normally established in such situations like this to examine the incident from a health and safety viewpoint. The purpose of the investigation is primarily preventative, to discover causation and collect statistical data in order that...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 144 together. Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum sustainable...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A decision on the question of funding the procurement of a replacement vessel for Asgard II will be made in the context of finalising the Estimates for my Department for 2010. That process is on going and it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on the matter at this stage.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces do not operate a parcel post service to personnel serving on overseas missions. In most cases families and friends are able to use the existing postal service of An Post to send parcels to troops serving overseas. However, because of the remoteness of the location of Irish troops serving with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT),...