Results 9,381-9,400 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

National Emergency Plan. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There is a slight misunderstanding here. No booklets were printed in Russian, Polish or Chinese. The information was made available in these languages on the website.

National Emergency Plan. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy asked about local radio. We deliberately chose to advertise in the print media, both local and national newspapers, on local and national radio and on billboards throughout the country. Television advertising is extremely expensive, and we are trying to keep costs down. The total cost of the campaign was slightly more than €2 million, of which about 25% went on advertising. I...

National Emergency Plan. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I apologise to the Deputy for misunderstanding, but I accept his point. It is a useful suggestion that I will discuss with the Ceann Comhairle.

Civil Defence. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Civil Defence Board was established in 2003. The board produces a strategic plan every three years, the most recent of which, covering the period 2007-10, was launched by me last September. Copies of the plan have been laid before the House. The strategies identified by the board for the management and development of the Civil Defence place a high priority on the organisation's...

Civil Defence. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Deputy Wall for his remarks regarding the Civil Defence and I will pass on his compliments. I am sorry to learn of the specific case and that people could not engage in a rescue mission because they did not have a licence to operate the boat. I will get an answer for the Deputy.

Civil Defence. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: If the Deputy gives me specific details, I will follow up on the matter.

Defence Forces Medical Services. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The number of medical staff within the Defence Forces is 31, comprising 22 medical officers-doctors, four dentists, one periodontist and four pharmacists. In addition, there are 24 members of the Army nursing service. The key resource issue in the provision of medical services to the Defence Forces is the acknowledged shortage of doctors in the Medical Corps. While the establishment for...

Defence Forces Medical Services. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Army personnel who require medical service will receive it. We do not have sufficient numbers of doctors in the Army, but we make up for this shortage by bringing them in from outside.

Defence Forces Medical Services. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Nobody will be left without adequate medical treatment. That notion is a fallacy. Nevertheless, it would be more desirable to have a full complement of 47 doctors. We have tried hard to build up to that number but, unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful. We have increased the pay substantially and have undertaken several intensive recruitment campaigns. The result, however, has been...

Defence Forces Medical Services. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I will convey Deputy Deenihan's request to Lieutenant General Nash to attend a meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. In regard to the points made by Deputies Wall and Varadkar, I agree it is a question of career progression. I thank the Deputies for their suggestions, which I will pass on. Deputy Varadkar is correct that it is not a question of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The number and percentage of Civil Servants who are worksharing in the Department of Defence are as follows. Grade Total Worksharing % of Grade % Principal Officer 3 21 Higher Executive Officer 11 19 Executive Officer 22 25 Staff Officer 10 27 Clerical Officer 40 24 Services Attendant 1 50 The number and percentage of Civil Servants who applied to participate in the term time...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 230 together. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force as the strength sufficient to meet all foreseeable military requirements for the period comprehended by the White Paper (i.e. up to 2010). This remains the position. It is my intention to maintain the established Government...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence provides for a role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to assist and support the civil authorities in relation to Search and Rescue. The commitment given in the agreed Programme for Government to promote greater cooperation and knowledge sharing between the Coast Guard, the Navy and Air Corps is to ensure that the waters surrounding this island are safe for...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The total number of Civil Servants in my Department is 385 (whole time equivalents). An outline of the functions and responsibilities of the various branches of the Department is set out as follows. Minister's Office The number of civil servants in this Office is 11.8. The Office of the Minister of State The number of civil servants in this Office is 2. The Secretary General & Management...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Promotions: Defence Forces Promotions (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Significant progress has been made recently in implementing schemes to enable more commissioning from the ranks. The revised cadetship competition is now seen as the primary means of commissioning from the ranks. The cadetship competition has been revised to increase the maximum entry age to 28 and to award bonus marks to candidates with previous experience in the Permanent Defence Force...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation plan provides for a phased approach to enhancing the capabilities of the Reserve over the period to the end of 2009. The introduction of new RDF organisational structures, the development of new training syllabi, improved equipment and clothing have successfully been delivered as part of phase 1 of the plan. Phase 2 of the Implementation plan...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am very conscious of the commitment given by military personnel on overseas duty and the impact it has on their families and loved ones. Regular contact with home helps to sustain the high morale of military personnel serving overseas and facilitating communication with home is seen as a priority. In the normal course of events all personnel serving overseas are entitled to one free five...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Corps: Defence Forces Medical Corps (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 27 and 30 together. Military medical services and facilities exist to maintain the health of the Defence Forces and to support them in operational and overseas activities. The focus of the military medical service is on primary care, occupational medicine, acute trauma management, preventative medical programmes and field medical training. The challenges...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A breakdown of the number recruited into and discharged from the Reserve Defence Force since 1 January 2008 is in the form of a Tabular Statement. The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) comprises the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve. As of 31 March 2008, the number serving in the Army Reserve is 7,948 and in the Naval Service Reserve is 317. The White Paper on Defence outlines the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force as the strength sufficient to meet all foreseeable military requirements for the period comprehended by the White Paper (i.e. up to 2010). This remains the position. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces....