Results 8,561-8,580 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We will be talking to the representative associations about the matter. Some people may be entitled to the ESDP medal but fall just short of the service required for the MINURCAT medal. Some people might not even be entitled to the ESDP medal and also fall short of the service required for the MINURCAT medal, although I do not think that situation arises. If such people believe the...

Defence Forces Equipment. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The reduction in the provision for the Air Corps this year should be seen in the context of the very significant investment in new equipment for the Air Corps in recent years. This comprehensive investment programme included the delivery of eight Pilatus training aircraft at a total cost of €60 million, inclusive of VAT; two light-utility EC135 helicopters acquired from Eurocopter SAS at a...

Written Answers — Reserve Defence Forces: Reserve Defence Forces (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are no plans to disband the Reserve Defence Force. The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009 and, as with the public service generally. The Defence Organisation is required to operate with reduced funding. In this context, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force has been suspended for the present. While the...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My Department produces an Annual Report on the performance of the Department and the Defence Forces in accordance with the Public Service Management Act, 1997. In addition, I receive Annual Reports from the Civil Defence Board and from the Board of Coiste an Asgard. These reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to reports commissioned by my Department in the past five years is as follows: In 2004, my Department commissioned a report from an Independent Monitoring Group which was set up to give effect to the recommendations of the Doyle Report (2002) concerning Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Defence Forces. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27 March 2009. As with the public service generally, the defence organisation is required to operate with reduced funding for 2009. In this context, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force has been suspended for the present. I accept that this will disappoint many individuals who have applied...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The closure of Rockhill Barracks was completed on 29 January 2009. A private security firm has been employed to provide security at the barracks in the short term with effect from 30 January 2009. As the appointment of this contractor is temporary, for commercial reasons it would be inappropriate to state the cost at this stage. It is not anticipated that a Private Security firm will need...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (29 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are no plans to stand down the Reserve Defence Force. The budgetary provision for training of members of the Reserve has been reduced but will provide sufficient funds to allow all current members of the Reserve to undertake paid training. Summer training camps have not been discontinued. The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (29 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are no plans to introduce a voluntary early retirement scheme in the Defence Forces. The existing enhanced pension arrangements for members of the Defence Forces differ significantly from the normal public service arrangements.

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to share my time with Deputy Nolan.

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am glad to be able to address the House on this issue. I had the opportunity to listen to my constituency colleagues, Deputies Noonan and Kieran O'Donnell, and I have taken very careful note of what they said. Deputy Noonan made a point about the Garda Reserve and the Reserve Defence Forces and the apparent mismatch between sections 4 and 13. The Minister can deal with that matter in his...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the period from 1 January 2007 Dáil Éireann approved the following legislation pertaining to my Department: - Defence (Amendment) Act 2007. This Act was not initiated to fulfil EU obligations.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (28 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 outlines the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan provides for the phased enhancement of Reserve capabilities over the period to the end of 2009. In accordance with the Plan, revised organisation structures came into effect in October 2005. The Reserve has been re-organised along similar lines to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It has not been possible in the time available to compile the information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (23 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The level of threat of nuclear attack on this State is low. All threats to the security of the State are monitored constantly. Details of such monitoring and responses by the Defence Forces to threats cannot be released for security purposes. The most important defence against any attack is external vigilance, detection and prevention by the security forces. The necessary resources of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My Department holds five credit cards held as follows: Post Credit Limit Private Secretary to Minister for Defence €10,000 Private Secretary for Minister of State at the Department of Defence €10,000 Secretary-General (2 cards) Visa Card is €10,000 American Express Card (no limit) Human Resources Manager €5,000 Since 1 January 2004 to date, €63,799.90 has been spent using...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (23 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I wish to confirm that, based on the results of a staff census carried out recently, my Department continues to meet the 3% target for employment of persons with a disability.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (22 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My Department supports the provisions of Section 7 of the Finance (No.2) Act 2008 which introduced an exemption from an income tax charge under section 118 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 in respect of a benefit in the form of a bicycle or associated safety equipment provided to a director or employee by his or her employer, where the bicycle/associated safety equipment is used by the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The plan to deploy members of the Reserve Defence Force on overseas peace support operations has been postponed for the foreseeable future. The Government has introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009. This moratorium prevents the planned recruitment of members of the Reserve to the Permanent Defence Force for the purpose of overseas...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (22 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As of last Friday, the 17th April, there were seven (7) Final Reports from the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces that were awaiting my final determination. Of these, one (1) was presented over four months ago. Every effort is made to respond to the Ombudsman's Reports as quickly as possible. Specific staff have been dedicated within the Defence Forces and my Department to dealing with...