Results 8,861-8,880 of 12,701 for speaker:Willie O'Dea
- Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: Regarding Deputy O'Shea's question, military intelligence is involved but I do not know to what extent. I do not know what percentage of its time is allocated to people trafficking or drug trafficking. It puts a heavy focus on internal security of the State, as the Deputy is aware, in regard to members of foreign-based terrorist groups in particular.
- Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I appreciate that. With regard to Deputy Durkan's comments on air surveillance, the navy can get involved in one scenario outside the structure of a task force. The CASA aircraft occasionally carry members of the drug teams in an observational capacity to monitor and so on. I cannot disagree that if we had sufficient resources, more air surveillance would be useful.
- Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 146 together. I was pleased to launch the second report of the Independent Monitoring Group, IMG, on 17 December last. I would like to especially thank Dr. Doyle, the members of the IMG and all the other parties, both within and beyond the Defence Forces, who contributed to the completion of this comprehensive and timely report. The IMG was...
- Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I agree with the Deputy regarding the major cultural change and I appreciate his acknowledgement of the progress made. A total of 40 recommendations arise from the 2008 report and, with regard to his question on the timescale, a new report will be made at the end of 2013. I take his point about the difference between the barracks setting and the field setting. There has been controversy...
- Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: When I took on this job in 2004, it coincided with the first IMG report, Response to the Challenge of a Workplace. The change in attitude and culture since has been significant. There is a recognition and realisation throughout the Defence Forces from top to bottom that bullying, harassment and inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated. As the Deputy acknowledged, two systems are in...
- Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I will let the Deputy have the figures for the past four years. All I have with me are the figures for 2007. I remember asking for the figures for 2008, but they do not seem to have arrived. In 2007 there were seven applications for redress of wrongs. Of these, three were not upheld, one was withdrawn and three cases are ongoing. There were four complaints of unacceptable behaviour, one...
- Departmental Staff. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: My Department has nine civil servants serving with a number of different missions abroad as follows: one principal officer based in Brussels whose responsibilities span the delegation of Ireland to the Political and Security Committee and the liaison office of Ireland for Partnership for Peace, who also acts as a representative to European Defence Agency; an assistant principal officer who...
- Departmental Staff. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: From the Permanent Defence Forceââ
- Departmental Staff. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: At the moment it is in excess of 500.
- Departmental Staff. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I will get that information. The number is small. It is in single figures.
- Departmental Staff. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: There is no immediately plan to do so. However, I will get the number of military personnel, which is very small.
- Departmental Staff. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I accept that.
- Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: In keeping with the budget announcement last October, the four military posts at Lifford, Rockhill, Monaghan and Longford closed last week with the personnel transferring to Finner, Dundalk and Athlone. I would like to take this opportunity to record my, and the Government's, appreciation of the professional manner in which the closures and transfers were conducted. The military authorities...
- Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: Deputy Deenihan is correct. I gave that commitment and immediately after giving it in the House I spoke to the Army Chief of Staff and his deputy chiefs. I told them if the project could not be completed by 31 January, I would not get too upset. I communicated that to them and they assured me it could be done but that it was a matter for themselves. I admit the situation in Aiken Barracks,...
- Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I have had no direct complaints from individuals or PDFORRA, their representative organisation. They may have made complaints to the Department or military but certainly have not come to me. The military or Department have not brought these matters directly to my attention. In view of what Deputy Deenihan said, I will ascertain approximately how long the repair works of the new buildings...
- Marine Accidents. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. As I indicated to the House previously, the board of Coiste an Asgard decided in early December last to arrange a second underwater survey of Asgard II. Due to factors outside its control, it was not possible to arrange that survey until last week. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the survey could not be completed...
- Marine Accidents. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: Deputy O'Shea is correct. We did promise last December that there would be a second inspection. However, due to weather conditions, it was not possible to organise it until last week and even when it was organised the weather was so bad the normal type of inspection done in the first instance could not be done. Due to the appalling conditions, all that could be done was to take a sonar...
- Marine Accidents. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I have not made a final decision on that yet. The fact is that the Asgard is a very popular institution and it is true that it has been a great ambassador for Ireland. The other side of the story, however, is that the ship does not have any historic significance per se as it is only 30 years old. It is called the Asgard but does not have any connection with the original vessel. We must...
- Marine Accidents. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: Deputy O'Shea has posed three questions. First, no matter what happens we will need a replacement if we are to have a sail training season from May to September-October. On my instructions, the board of the Asgard is actively pursuing the question of a replacement. It has examined a number of possible replacement vessels with a view to leasing one for the season at least. I have asked the...
- Marine Accidents. (4 Feb 2009)
Willie O'Dea: I would advise Deputy Deenihan not to take any interpretation from my tone. I am trying to remain neutral in this matter and am awaiting a report from the board. I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as I make a decision.