Results 10,381-10,400 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Common Security and Defence Policy: Common Security and Defence Policy (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 34, 38, 257, 259 and 276 together. Discussions on Ireland's participation in the Nordic Battlegroup are continuing with Sweden, which is the Framework Nation. There have been a number of detailed discussions between Department officials and the Defence Forces with their Swedish counterparts, including technical discussions on a Memorandum of Understanding...

Written Answers — Casement Aerodrome: Casement Aerodrome (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Aircraft flying the standard instrument approach from the East to Runway 29 at Casement Aerodrome would normally over-fly Dún Laoghaire, Monkstown, Stillorgan, Mount Merrion, Goatstown, Dundrum, Churchtown, Rathfarnham, Willbrook, Templeogue, Tymon North, Kilnamanagh and Belgard.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 36 together. 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...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 41 and 269 together. In the White Paper on Defence in 2000, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be developed around the provision of an eight-ship flotilla. The Naval Service is currently operating with the recommended eight ships. As a general guide, the objective would be to replace vessels after approximately 30 years service. On this...

Written Answers — Naval Service: Naval Service (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I would like to begin by expressing my condolences and sincere sympathy to the families and friends of those who died as a result of the sinking of the Pere Charles and Honeydew II fishing vessels. The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue Region. The role of the Defence Forces in Search &...

Written Answers — Naval Service: Naval Service (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In the White Paper on Defence in 2000, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be developed around the provision of an eight-ship flotilla. The Naval Service operates a fleet of eight ships categorised as follows: 1 × Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV) 2 × Large Patrol Vessels (LPV) 3 × Offshore Patrol Vessels(OPV) 2 × Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPV) The strength of the Naval Service...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces has a radar capability used for national security and Aid to the Civil Power operations. The main Radar capability of the Defence Forces is the Flycatcher Radar System. This equipment was procured in 2002 from the Dutch Armed Forces. It is used to carry out the Target Acquisition and Fire Control of the Bofors EL70 40mm Air Defence Guns. Each radar unit is capable of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The number of military medical personnel, including dentists, serving overseas on 29th January 2007, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the form of a Tabular Statement, which I proposed to circulate with the Official Report.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces are required to maintain the highest standards in preparation for meeting the roles assigned to them by Government, including participation in multinational peace support operations. The Royal School of Artillery runs an All Arms Tactical Targeting (AATT) Course at its training camp in Larkhill, Wiltshire. Two junior officers from the Permanent Defence Force were students...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces and the Department have taken a wide variety of initiatives and have devoted extensive resources to this issue, since Dr Eileen Doyle and the External Advisory Committee presented their original report "The Challenge of a Workplace" in March 2002. This independent report addressed the entire range of interpersonal issues within the Defence Forces. Its contents and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (1 Feb 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 — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 61 together. The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a 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 will have a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 64 together. As chairman of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I have stressed, on many occasions, the importance that I attach to departments and key public authorities having structured exercise programmes in place. I believe that the development of these programmes is essential in order to refine and develop the arrangements that exist,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The payments and allowances paid to members of the Reserve Defence Force are as follows: Reservists of the First Line Reserve, who are former members of the Permanent Defence Force, are paid an annual gratuity. Reservists of the Second Line Reserve, during attendance on training, are paid: Basic pay for Second Line Reservists, being the 1st point of the pay scale for the equivalent rank in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I do not intend to raise the minimum age for recruitment to either the Permanent Defence Force or to the Reserve Defence Forces to a minimum of 18 years of age. The Deputy's question may refer to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, which was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in May 2000....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Feb 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 throughout all facets of the Defence Forces and I will continue the good work in that regard. In recent years a particular focus of the investment has been on equipment for the individual soldier. In this regard the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 55 together. The Deputy knows, 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...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Services: Search and Rescue Services (1 Feb 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. The Defence Forces are committed to providing support to the civil authorities specifically in relation to search and rescue. In this regard, the Naval Service and Air Corps provide support to the Coast Guard as the need arises and within their...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Haulbowline Island comprises 84 acres approximately. The property is vested in the Minister for Finance. The Naval Service currently occupies c. 40 acres and these lands are administered by my Department. The balance of the Island lands which were formerly under Lease to Irish Ispat (previously Irish Steel) are under the administration of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and...

Written Answers — Military Medals: Military Medals (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Of some 550 enquiries made to date, my Department has received 392 completed application forms for Medal certificates in respect of Veterans of the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence. Following examination, entitlement to certificates has so far been established in 275 cases. A total of 152 of these cases have been finalised involving the issue of 486 certificates. The issuing of...