Results 8,541-8,560 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Reserve Defence Force. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy has asked many questions.

Reserve Defence Force. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On active and inactive members, it is impossible to give a precise answer to that.

Reserve Defence Force. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: All I can say is that the reserve has been vigilant in recent years in removing inactive persons from the roll. Last year 4,321 reservists utilised 81,000 man-days in terms of paid training. The total number on the books is 7,500. I am convinced that the majority of those would be fairly active.

Reserve Defence Force. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As near as I can, I will get the figures for Deputy Stanton. On the Deputy's other point, I agree that the reserve is a useful outlet for persons who are interested in matters military. I do not know how many will resign between now and the end of the year. The trend in recent years has been that the numbers joining the reserve have been falling off, but in the changed economic environment...

Reserve Defence Force. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The reasons for consistently recruiting have not disappeared. The embargo has interrupted those for the good reason that we must bring the public finances back into control.

Reserve Defence Force. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I can confirm that. That is my intention. There is no intention to disband the reserve. On the specific problem Deputy O'Connor mentioned, I already indicated to the House in reply to earlier questions that it is a matter I will take up. I have been discussing it with my officials and I will take it up with the Department of Finance to see whether we can get around that issue. The...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy can make whatever he wants from talking at the doors.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Where were those cuts to be implemented? It was all about a performance budget.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On 15 March 2009, MINURCAT, the United Nation's-led mission in Chad and the Central African Republic, assumed operational control of the UN 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 commander in the mission. In the eight short weeks or so since MINURCAT took over...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It concerns me that there are shortfalls in the mission to date. As Deputy Deenihan is aware, MINURCAT has taken over since 15 March and there are some teething problems. To the best of my knowledge, the fuel crisis was unanticipated. The Irish troops have been sent out to Chad, as have the other MINURCAT troops, to do a job and anything that prevents them doing it to the best of their...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As we will see in the reply to the next question, the restriction on playing sports has nothing whatsoever to do with the fuel crisis.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We will come to that. I was merely responding to something Deputy Deenihan said.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The troops are not confined to barracks. They are not able to engage in some routine patrols due to rationing of fuel. Fuel usage has been prioritised for life supports systems in the camp such as air conditioning, to which Deputy Deenihan referred, and lighting and heating. I am advised that the situation should substantially be resolved within the next three weeks, in which case, I hope,...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In exercising his statutory duty of care to his troops, the Irish commander of the 99th infantry battalion deployed with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, MINURCAT, conducted a risk assessment of all activities, including sporting activities, carried out by personnel deployed in the theatre of operations. It was the commander's assessment that the risk of...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are a number of issues in the Deputy's statement. I do not know whether this restriction is being imposed on other missions, but I can find out for him. The force commander has a responsibility and a duty of care to look out for the health and safety of troops under his command. The reality in Chad is that the ground is extremely hard. Some of the sports are played out on open...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I said 34 or 35.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No, I meant 34 or 35 in total.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: While I do not believe health and safety should be the sole criterion in this regard, we cannot totally ignore it. As far as I am aware, one soldier suffered a serious injury as a result of engaging in sport. Anybody who has visited the region will know that the ground in the area is not suitable for sports involving bodily contact. The commander, the Government and I as Minister have a...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria, including length of service, service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service at home and overseas. Members who serve overseas on UN missions or UN mandated missions, subject to certain criteria, are eligible for the award of the United Nations peacekeepers medal. This medal is awarded...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I understand that people who served 30 days and moved from the EUFOR mission straight into the MINURCAT mission will be entitled to an ESDP medal. The question is whether they will have served sufficient time to also get a MINURCAT medal. As the Deputy knows, only one medal is recognised per tour of duty. The Deputy says that those involved would regard it as more appropriate to get the...