Results 9,601-9,620 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In the Headline Goal 2010, the EU set itself the objective inter alia, of being able "to respond with rapid and decisive action applying a fully coherent approach to the whole spectrum of crisis management operations covered by the Treaty on the European Union". A key element of the Headline Goal is the capability to deploy forces at high readiness, broadly based on the Battlegroups concept....

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 December 2007, as advised by the military authorities, was 10,434. This comprises 8,512 in the Army, 845 in the Air Corps and 1,077 in the Naval...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy will be aware, significant investment has been made in Defence Forces equipment in recent years to provide them with the most modern equipment to undertake tasks assigned to them by Government. The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is in keeping with the most modern requirements and the highest international standards. Ongoing investment in the Defence Forces will ensure...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As of 1 February 2008, a total of 427 members of the Permanent Defence Force is serving overseas. Of the 427 currently serving overseas, 413 are Army personnel, 8 are Air Corps personnel and 6 are members of the Naval Service. The deployment of some 50 Army Ranger Wing (ARW) personnel to the European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA is...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The ongoing equipment modernisation programme ensures that the Defence Forces are fully equipped with the most modern of equipment for their day-to-day roles at home and on overseas missions. The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is in keeping with the most modern standards. Continual investment in the Defence Forces will ensure that this remains to be the case.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There is ongoing monitoring of Defence Forces facilities to ensure they are adequate to meet military requirements. To supplement this my Department is engaged in an on-going capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces both Permanent and Reserve. The programme focuses mainly on...

Written Answers — Regulatory Authorities: Regulatory Authorities (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There is no regulator or regulatory authority under the remit of my Department.

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As Deputy O'Shea has noted, chaotic hardly begins to describe the situation. I have discussed that specific matter with the force commander. It is my earnest hope that we will be able to make a difference in that regard and that we will be in a position to prevent a recurrence. When Deputy O'Shea raised the question of children, it reminded me that I had not replied to one of the...

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Collins that while we must be conscious of the fact that it is a dangerous mission and we need to keep this to the forefront of our considerations at all times, we do not wish to emphasise it too much out of consideration for the families of those who are going abroad into a very hostile environment. In reply to Deputy Collins's question about equipment, the force is...

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I said last week that General Nash had reassured me that the medical and logistical matters had been sorted out to his satisfaction. He is the force commander——

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: He is the force commander and I take his word for it. What would the Deputy do in that situation?

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I did ask him.

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I have already told the Deputy the answer.

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy must be deaf as well as everything else. He said, "Yes, they are sorted out". Can you hear that or do I have to use smaller words for you to understand? He said the matter was sorted out.

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: General Nash said he was satisfied with the matter. I deplore Deputy Deasy's attempts——

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Please ask him to stop interrupting me.

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I deplore Deputy Deasy's rather shoddy attempts——

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: ——in complete contrast to Deputy Deenihan or Deputy O'Shea, to grab a cheap headline——

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy is trying to grab a cheap headline——

Overseas Missions. (19 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: ——based on the safety of 400 troops who are going out to a hostile environment. Shame on him. I ask him to withdraw his remarks. (Interruptions).