Results 10,061-10,080 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Allowances: Defence Forces Allowances (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In my address to the PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference in 2006 I invited the Association to submit a claim for an increase in Overseas Allowance. In accordance with normal procedures the Association's claim is being dealt with under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme (C&A scheme) for members of the Permanent Defence Force and has been the subject of correspondence between my Department...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The annual leave entitlements for members of the Defence Forces are as follows: a. Senior Officers days 43 b. Junior Officers days 31 c. Enlisted Personnel days 29 These annual leave entitlements are reduced by a set amount while the member of the Defence Forces is on an overseas tour of duty. The reduction is 3.5 days per month for senior officers, 2.5 days per month for junior...

Written Answers — Maritime Safety: Maritime Safety (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue region, for pollution and salvage response in the marine environment, and for marine safety awareness. In accordance with the roles assigned to them by Government in the White Paper on Defence, the Defence Forces are committed to providing support to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In reply to Parliamentary Question No. 562 of 6 February 2007, I stated that it was intended to commence promotion competitions [from the rank of Captain (Army Reserve)/Lieutenant (Naval Service Reserve) to Commandant (Army Reserve)/Lieutenant Commander (Naval Service Reserve)] no later than April 2007. The promotion boards were convened in April, 2007 and their deliberations concluded in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decided in December 2003 that my Department's Dublin-based staff are to be decentralised to Newbridge, Co. Kildare with Defence Forces Headquarters decentralising to the Curragh. The Office of Public Works published the planning notification for the new Defence Forces' Headquarters in the national press on 13 July 2007. No observations were received in relation to this...

Written Answers — Civil Defence Board: Civil Defence Board (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Civil Defence Board was established in 2003 and is charged with the development and management of the organisation at National level. The Board is obliged to submit its Strategic Plan to me for approval every three years. I recently launched the 2nd Strategic Plan of the Civil Defence Board which covers the period 2007-2010 and which has been laid before the House. I was very encouraged...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The level of medical cover for spouses of Defence Forces personnel who accompany them on accompanied overseas missions is currently the subject of a claim from the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers. The claim is being dealt with through the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. As discussions under the scheme are confidential to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The main day-to-day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the Exclusive Fishery Limits. The number of Patrol Vessels on patrol in Irish waters at any one time varies between three and...

Written Answers — Military Investigations: Military Investigations (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: A Military Police Investigation was conducted into a video clip involving Defence Forces personnel in Liberia, which was uploaded onto the YouTube website in late May this year. Following this, three soldiers were charged under section 168 of the Defence Act, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline of the forces. At the time of the incident, October 2006, the soldiers were...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The question of the recruitment of foreign nationals to the Defence Forces is not a new one and Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of foreign nationals to the Defence Forces. Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, Apprenticeship Competition, General Service Enlistment or Direct Entry Competitions which are held to fill...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In recent years recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) has been satisfactory. In 2006 there were 1,124 recruits and in 2007 to date, there have been 847. The RDF is going through a process of change with the implementation of the recommendations of the White Paper on Defence and the RDF Implementation Board Report. The Implementation Plan is being rolled-out on a phased basis up to...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 114 and 115 together. Ireland receives requests from time to time in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. Consideration is currently being given to possible Defence Forces participation in UN mandated military operations that may arise in Africa. At present, the proposed ESDP mission to Chad...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 and the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan (2002) set out the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) together with an Implementation Plan extending to 2009. The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) now has a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), better equipment and improved training. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, or Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann Teoranta (ONET) has enjoyed the long-standing official recognition of the Department and the Defence Forces. ONET is dedicated to looking after the welfare of all ex-service personnel of the Irish Defence Forces. A main objective of ONET is to ensure the welfare of ex-servicemen and women by way of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: An order for two (2) man portable mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly referred to as UAVs, was placed with Aeronautics Defence Systems Limited from Israel, in May 2007. The value of the order is in the region of €780,000, inclusive of VAT. The award of the contract followed on from a two stage tender competition in which eight proposals were initially received and three tenders...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: On 25 September, 2007, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1778 establishing a multi-dimensional UN mission in Chad and Central African Republic that will help strengthen security in the region. Resolution 1778 (2007) establishes the mission, to be known as MINURCAT, for a period of one year. MINURCAT will consist of three components: a UN multidimensional presence,...

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The mission of the Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to advertise the Irish horse abroad through participation in international competitions. The school has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years, and through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad it has successfully promoted...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Corps: Defence Forces Medical Corps (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The military medical services and their facilities exist primarily 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, acute trauma management, preventative medical programmes and field medical training. The development of the capacity of the Medical Corps forms part of the...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and equal treatment for men and women in the Defence Forces (Army, Air Corps, Naval Service) including the Reserve Defence Force, and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. In effect, this means that women are eligible, on the same basis as men, for participation in operational and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Investigations: Defence Forces Investigations (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: An extensive investigation is being carried out by the Defence Forces into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The investigation report is expected to be completed shortly. The issue of safety belts on troop carrying vehicles will be considered on the basis of the final outcome of the report.