Results 8,501-8,520 of 12,701 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Corps: Defence Forces Medical Corps (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that there are a number of physical and medical standards laid down by the Military Authorities for entry to the Defence Forces. These requirements are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training undertaken by members of the Defence Forces. The Medical Corps regularly reviews...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 106 and 457 together. Medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as their length of service, for service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service both at home and overseas. Members who serve overseas on UN missions or UN mandated missions, subject to certain criteria, are eligible for the...

Written Answers — Military Medals: Military Medals (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The arrangement in question remains in place and my Department continues to issue Medal certificates signed by me in cases where the 1916 Medal or other War of Independence-related Medal has been lost, stolen or destroyed. Since its introduction in 2006, 1,364 certificates have been issued including 128 in 2008 and 50 to date in 2009.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 102 and 464 together. The development of the Medical Corps forms part of the agreed programme for Government. I am committed to providing a sustainable medical service to meet the needs of the Defence Forces both at home and abroad. As I stated in my answer to a question on this issue in March the final report from PA Consulting on the review of the...

Written Answers — Ombudsman for the Defence Forces: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On the 19th September 2005, Ms. Paulyn Marrinan Quinn SC was appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Government, as the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Her term of office was extended for a further three years from 19th September 2008. The function of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 92 and 110 together. On 15 March 2009, MINURCAT, the United Nation's led mission in Chad and the Central African Republic assumed operational control of the United Nations force of 2,085 personnel, including 1,877 troops re-hatted from eight EUFOR contributors. An Irish officer, Brigadier General Gerald Aherne, has been appointed Deputy Force...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A total of nine civilian employees are employed by my Department under short term contracts to work with the Defence Forces. Contracts relating to two of these employees are due to expire by the end of 2009. My Department is currently considering the implications of the Government decision on the savings measures on public service numbers announced by the Minister for Finance on 27 March 2009...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The refurbishment programme on the Creidne for use as a sail training vessel by Coiste an Asgard is nearing completion. The work is being carried out by the Naval Service at the Naval Base, Haulbowline, Co. Cork. The Creidne is due to commence a programme of sail training cruises on 3 July.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 447 together. The strength of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service as of 31 December 2008 is set out in the tabular statement. The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009. In this context and given the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all recruitment to the Defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 98 together. As the Deputies are aware, there has been very significant investment in equipment and infrastructure in the Defence Forces over the past twelve years. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. It is, however, imperative that my Department and the Defence Forces look to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009. In this context and given the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force has been suspended for the present. I am advised by the military authorities that the number of recruit enlistments to the Reserve Defence Forces in 2009 prior to...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 441 and 442 together. Following Government approval in July 2007, notice of a tender competition for the purchase of replacement vessels for the Naval Service was sent to the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 August 2007. The competition is for the purchase of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV's) with an option of a third and one Extended Patrol...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 113 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 — Defence Forces Promotions: Defence Forces Promotions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The savings measures on public service numbers were introduced by the Government on 27 March as part of the response to the current unprecedented economic challenges. I am sensitive to the career aspirations of the many excellent members of the Permanent Defence Force. I understand that the impact of the moratorium will lead to disappointment. However, it must be set against the dramatic...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Deployment: Defence Forces Deployment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to question 91 on Tuesday 10th March last. There have been no further developments since then.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the Military authorities that the Director of the Defence Forces Medical Corps has recommended that all personnel should be discouraged from the use of dietary supplements/muscle building agents of any kind unless taken under medical advice. The Director has also advised that their use by personnel deployed on overseas duty should be forbidden. Any person who believes that he...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The EU operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Operation "Althea" - was established in December 2004, under the authority of UN Security Council Resolution 1575 of 22 November 2004, to replace the NATO-led Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR). On 20 November 2008, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1845 (2008) renewing EUFOR's mandate for a further period of 12 months....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the manner requested. Each Brigade of the Defence Forces records information on calls out in its own area. The total number of calls out responded to by each Brigade for 2008 and to the period ended 24 April 2009 is set out in the following table: Brigade 2008 2009(as at 24/04/09) East 111 34 South 37 4 West 20 10 DFTC (Curragh)...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which includes Ministers, senior officials of government departments, senior officers of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and officials of other key public authorities, which have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. The Government Task Force meets on a regular basis. The most recent meeting took place...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The number of cash in transit escorts provided by the Defence Forces in 2008 was 2,210. The average number of personnel per escort was 8 and the average duration of an escort was 10.9 hours. This gives a total of approximately 193,000 personnel hours expended by the escort teams on cash in transit escorts in 2008. Costs in respect of the service provided in the twelve month period to the...