Results 10,561-10,580 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established on 19 September, 2003, under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509. The resolution authorised the deployment, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, for a period of twelve months, of up to 15,000 military personnel, to include up to 250 military observers, 875 civilian police officers and a civilian component. UNMIL has a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning continues to meet on a regular basis. The next meeting will be the 50th Task Force meeting since it was established in 2001. The Task Force promotes coordination of emergency planning across departments. As chairman of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I have continually stressed the importance that I attach to departments and key...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a new Reserve Defence Force. The new Reserve will have a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better equipment and training and opportunities to serve on overseas peace support missions. The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan, which was formally launched in July 2004, is progressing on schedule and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces, in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service and 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 ceremonial...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The statutory processes involved in the appointment of chairs and members of non-Departmental public bodies under the remit of my Department and their legislative origin are as follows: Civil Defence Board. The members of the Civil Defence Board were appointed with effect from 5 June 2005. Under Section 7 of the Civil Defence Act 2002, the terms of office of a member of the Board shall not...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The older obsolete aircraft, six Marchetti aircraft, four Dauphin helicopters and one Gazelle helicopter have been disposed of or are in the process of being disposed of by tender competitions. The obsolete aircraft have been replaced by the arrival of eight new Pilatus aircraft and two EC 135 helicopters and the planned arrival of two AW 139 helicopters in November 2006 and two in 2007.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 228 and 230 together. The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 October 2006, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, as advised by the military authorities was 10,357. A detailed breakdown of the numbers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank and gender are set out in the following Tabular Statement. The White Paper on...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The ongoing equipment modernization 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 — : (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces have available to them equipment for monitoring and protecting their members in dealing with Nuclear, Biological or Chemical (NBC) threats should such arise. They hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment that meets their current requirements. This range includes approximately 9,500 NBC suits, of which 800 were delivered in January 2006. In addition, the Defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Promotions: Defence Forces Promotions (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The number of Army, Air Corps and Naval Service promotions approved or pending in 2006, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the form of a Tabular Statement which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. Officer Promotions Service Promotions Promotions Pending Army 129 5 Air Corps 23 Nil Naval Service 11 Nil Total 163 5 Enlisted Personnel Promotions Service...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Personnel on being discharged from the Permanent Defence Force are obliged to vacate married quarters within a short period of the dates of their discharge. There are 56 married quarters currently overheld. The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married personnel have an equal claim on such housing as other members of the community in the same income...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will deal with why this matter has taken until now. This issue was one of the first raised with me after I became Minister of Defence. I commissioned a report to properly research the matter. The question was initially asked by Deputies Gregory and Finian McGrath and I was delighted to respond to their concerns.

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Now that we have fuller information, I am required to officially correct the record and I have no difficulty with doing so. I also have no difficulty with making an apology to the two men if the original record at my Department got the facts wrong. I apologise for any trauma or grief caused by the fact that the record was incorrect. It is not within my power to grant a medal. That is a...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 25, 39 and 42 together. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, was originally established on 19 March 1978 under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, following the then invasion of Lebanon by Israel. In response to the crisis of July and August 2006, under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 the UN decided to extend the...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: A detailed threat assessment was carried out jointly with the Finns during a reconnaissance mission to Lebanon in September. We also consulted closely with UNIFIL and some of the other nations involved. The threat assessment was "low but within a volatile situation". In other words, while the threat is low at the moment, a number of issues could trigger a conflict again. That assessment...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Gormley on the latter point. I have had ongoing discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs about the matter. The two to three-year timescale can be a bit misleading. The last time we went into Lebanon we intended to spend a few years there but finished up spending 23 years in the country. The Government has made it clear that the maximum deployment to Lebanon...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The triple-lock mechanism, involving Government and Dáil approval together with a UN resolution, applies in all cases where troops are deployed, under arms, on overseas peacekeeping missions. Under the provisions of the Defence Act, Dáil approval is not required if the number going overseas is fewer than 12. On the criteria that apply, we must first decide how usefully Ireland can...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not know what is the practice as regards the third issue raised by the Deputy, or whether we do that after six months. I will inquire and if there is no problem with it I will be happy to discuss the matter after six months. As regards the deployment of troops, they will be in the general area of Blatt beside the village of Belasaki in the eastern sector, south of the Litani river....

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will certainly pass on Senator Brian Hayes's felicitations when I am in Lebanon. I have had no request for additional troops there. We still have 320 troops in Liberia but they will be finished next summer and will be available to go elsewhere. There are several places that could request our services. Overseas allowances must go through the conciliation and arbitration process but I said...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The priorities of the troops are set by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, force commander. One of the duties envisaged for the Lebanese Army when it enters southern Lebanon is not only the protection of civilians, but allowing them access to humanitarian assistance and Irish troops will play a part in this regard. Ireland is working hard at the United Nations, through the...