Results 10,241-10,260 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Military Disciplinary Hearings: Military Disciplinary Hearings (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There are currently eight cases of this general nature listed before the High Court. In my opening statements to the Seanad when introducing the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006, I stated that a number of legal challenges to the disciplinary provisions of the Defence Acts await hearing in the High Court. It would, of course be inappropriate for me to comment on those cases in any way...

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (7 Mar 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 — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: On 27 April 1981, an observation post at Dayr Ntar near As Sultaniyah manned by Private Hugh Doherty and Private Kevin Joyce came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds and Private Joyce was missing. Some equipment was also missing. The attackers are unknown. The UNIFIL investigation into the whereabouts of Private Joyce has continued but there have been no...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There is regular correspondence between my Office and that of the Chief of Staff on a wide range of issues relating to the business of the Defence Forces, for example on such matters as resignations, promotions, visits abroad by members of the Defence Forces, etc. This stream of routine correspondence with the Chief of Staff continued as normal during February 2007.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reform: Defence Forces Reform (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Military Authorities have advised that the number of complaints of a bullying or harassment nature recorded in each of the past ten years and made by men and women of the Permanent Defence Force is as follows: Redress of Wrongs — Male: Complaints of Bullying/ Harassment nature under Redress of Wrongs Procedures Year No. of Complaints Upheld Not Upheld Ongoing 1996 Nil Nil Nil Nil...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There are no current plans to extend the retirement age of officers in the Defence Forces. The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Force Review Implementation Plan both recommended reduction to retirement ages in an effort to address the age profile and fitness of the Defence Forces. The White Paper also envisaged officers attaining senior rank at a younger age. In addition,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for the new Reserve Defence Force. An Implementation Plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper vision and this will be rolled out over the period to end 2009. The new Reserve has a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better equipment and training and will have opportunities to serve...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: As you know, I am keen to increase the number of women applying to join our Defence Forces. To facilitate this, I have, with effect from 1st September 2006, reduced the minimum height requirement for entry into both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force from 162.56cm (5'4") to 157.48cm (5'2";). This change, which applies to both males and females, has the effect of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Review: Defence Forces Review (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I am pleased to inform the House that the review of implementation of White Paper recommendations has been completed by a civil/military Group in my Department. The report of the Group is currently under consideration and I hope to be in a position to publish it very shortly. I will arrange to have copies placed in the Oireachtas library in due course.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In December 2005, a contract was signed with Mowag for the supply, in 2007, of fifteen (15) Piranha Armoured Vehicles with a different configuration to previously delivered APCs. Nine (9) of the fifteen vehicles will be fitted with a Kongsberg Remote Weapon Station with a 12.7mm machine gun and six (6) will be fitted with an Oto Melara turret armed with a 30mm cannon. The contract value is...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Details on the average ages, by rank, have only been maintained on an annualised basis since 2001. The following table details this for Officers and Enlisted Personnel: Average Age by Rank in the PDF as at 31 December 2001 and 31 December 2006 Officers Rank 2001 2006 Increase/ Decrease (years) Brigadier General 58.20 57.25 -0.95 Colonel 55.82 56.49 0.67 Lieutenant Colonel 51.78 53.22...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: KFOR was established in June 1999 to support the maintenance of civil law and order within Kosovo, so as to develop a climate of safety and security, which will enable the transfer of increased responsibility to the civil authorities. Ireland has participated in the KFOR since August 1999. The Irish contingent currently comprises an APC Mounted Infantry Group of some 215 personnel including...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 140 together. A commemoration will again be held this Easter Sunday at the GPO to mark the 91st anniversary of the Easter Rising 1916. Following discussions at the All Party Oireachtas Committee it has been decided that the format of this years commemoration will be a military ceremony centred on the GPO with appropriate military honours rendered....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces hold an extensive range of modern Nuclear, Biological or Chemical (NBC) equipment that meets their current requirements. This range includes approximately 9,500 NBC suits. The NBC suits are retained in stores throughout the Defence Forces. Should an operational scenario arise, the NBC suits would be distributed as required to all personnel involved. In addition, the...

Written Answers — : (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: A tender competition was held in 2006 for the disposal of four Dauphin and one Gazelle helicopters. Following on from the tender competition, two sales agreements were completed in the latter part of 2006. The Dauphins were sold to Rotor Leasing Incorporated in the USA. The Gazelle was sold to Astral Communications in England. The income received from the sale of the helicopters, together...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government, in July, 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Islandbridge, Dublin. The sale of Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, Castleblayney Military Post, Devoy Barracks, Naas and Clancy Barracks,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: A detailed breakdown of the numbers serving in the Permanent Defence Force (Army, Naval Service and Air Corps) by rank and gender are in the form of the Tabular Statement below. The Tabular Statement also provides the comparable details for the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Permanent...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years and I will continue the good work in that regard. With regard to major equipment purchases, this year will see the delivery of two more AW139 helicopters for the Air Corps, the initiation of the mid-life upgrade on the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Communications: Defence Forces Communications (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The article to which the Deputy is referring is the report of an interview with the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lt General Jim Sreenan, which appeared in The Irish Times on 27 December, 2006. The interview was wide ranging and the Chief of Staff gave his views on a number of current matters of interest to the Defence Forces including the Defence Forces current overseas commitments and the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (7 Mar 2007)

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...