Results 9,101-9,120 of 12,701 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There is a single Press Office in my Department comprising of the following staff: Number Position 1 Press Advisor 1 Press Officer (Assistant Principal) 1 (part-time) Executive Officer The role of the Press Adviser and the Press Officer in my Department is to provide, in conjunction with the Defence Forces Press Officer and the Government Information Services, a high quality press and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 to 322, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware that the Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based civil service staff, together with a number of military personnel, to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and for the decentralisation of Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. I am pleased to...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (4 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It is not possible to give a detailed breakdown by individual barracks due to the extensive effort involved in compiling the information required. However, the Defence Forces spend approximately €11 million annually on utilities such as electricity, gas, heating oil, water and waste disposal across twenty seven military installations including barracks and training areas. Another €12...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (4 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Minster of State at my Department, Deputy Pat Carey also performs the role of Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach. While I have not delegated a specific function to the Minister of State, I do however on an ongoing basis request his assistance in the execution of certain duties. Minister Carey has deputised for me at official events on a number...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has no specific budget for youth affairs in 2008 or 2009.

Written Answers — Price Increases: Price Increases (30 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: No price increases have been imposed by my Department since 1 January 2008. During the same period, the only price increase by an agency under the aegis of my Department was an increase in the fees charged by Coiste an Asgard in respect of cruises on board Asgard II. The fees for the 2008 cruise programme were increased by amounts ranging from 15% to 20%. The most recent increase in the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (30 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Arising from a recommendation made in 1990 by the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces (the Gleeson Commission), Military Service Allowance (MSA) was made pensionable in the case of personnel retiring on or after 1 August 1990. This approach was fully consistent with settled public service pensions policy which provides that the benefit of an allowance...

Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Bannon flunked it. You flunked it. You are just a straw man. You are just a clown. Go away and resign yourself. Or else take a Valium.

Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: He flunked it. He did not even dare come up and see me.

Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: You flunked it. You are just a straw man.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Civil Service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. The operation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards (CPA). Details of awards to individual officers under the scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. However, I can say that during...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (29 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on the Defence Forces in terms of barrack management, administration, maintenance and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (29 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Earlier this year the projected figure for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force in 2008 was in the region of 690 general service recruits, 30 apprentices and 45 Cadets. To date in 2008 a total of 506 general service recruits have been enlisted of which 440 were to the Army and 66 to the Naval Service. Following the Cadetship Competition 41 Cadets commenced their cadet training on 29...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Post No. Salary Scale Special Adviser 1 Principal Officer Standard Scale: €86,168 — €106,582 Press Adviser 1 Principal Officer Standard Scale: €86,168 — €106,582

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (23 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decided on 1 July 2003 that Magee Barracks, Kildare, would be among the State lands released for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress Affordable Housing Initiative. With regard to Magee Barracks, I am pleased to advise you that my Department is currently finalising contracts with the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the final contract should be forwarded to Kildare County...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In April 2008 a Public Information and Awareness Campaign on Emergency Planning was launched at the National Emergency Coordination Centre. The main focus of the campaign was the publication and distribution of a handbook — 'Preparing for Major Emergencies'. The handbook was distributed to every household in the country. The cost of design, compilation, printing and distribution of 1.8...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. The estimated costs of incremental pay increases together with the estimated full year impact of the 2.5% pay increase and the proposed 3.5% pay increase are set out in the following tables. These estimates are based on existing personnel numbers and do not reflect any changes in numbers or profile of staff that might take place in the...

Written Answers — Sail Training Vessel: Sail Training Vessel (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 23 and 46 together. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board, which is a statutory, independent body, is carrying out an investigation into the cause of the sinking of Asgard II on 11 September. I have no information as to when the result of that investigation will be available. Asgard II was insured with Allianz Plc in the sum of €3.8m. Following...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On 19 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 recently extended for a further three years from 19 September 2008. I am advised...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There are existing controls in place to ensure that there can be no interference to inventoried weapons assigned to a Unit of the Defence Forces. All weapons are stored in sound and secure premises where access is restricted to designated personnel. There are frequent and detailed inspections of the serial-numbered assets and items of controlled stores. Defence Force Regulation L2 on...