Results 10,661-10,680 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Departmental Files: Departmental Files (24 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government has decided that the Department of Defence files relating to the successful pension applications of persons who took part in the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence should be made available to all. On 9 April, 2006, An Taoiseach announced that he was establishing a working group, to be chaired by his Department, on the requirements to preserve, archive and digitalise those...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (19 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Defence, the Army Pensions Board, and the Defence Forces were designated as separate and distinct bodies under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 & 2003. In October 2005 the Government decided to extend the application of FOI legislation to include Coiste an Asgard and the Civil Defence Board. The necessary regulations to provide for the extension of FOI to these bodies...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (19 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The oldest operational helicopter in the Air Corps fleet is the Alouette 111 helicopter. There are seven such helicopters in the fleet, the oldest dates back to 1963. The cost of an Alouette at that time was €80,000 approximately. The Alouette helicopters will be withdrawn from service when the four new AW 139 helicopters on order from Agusta S.pA in Italy enter operational service. The...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: What was the question?

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Civil Servants in my Department have not sought to obtain an Order from the Courts enforcing or associated with enforcing their contractual rights and entitlements since 1987.

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (17 Oct 2006)

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 — Military Co-operation: Military Co-operation (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There is no co-operation involved between Irish and US Defence Forces arising out of the existence or the role assigned to EUCOM by the US military authorities. Obviously there is a longstanding relationship with the US Military Forces generally. Moreover, US Forces have also participated in UN mandated peacekeeping operations alongside Irish troops. Cooperation with US Forces generally...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 62 together. Ireland is currently contributing 677 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas on UN mandated operations, observer missions or undertaking representative or staff postings are listed in the table. The main overseas commitments are to the United Nations...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel is the principal base of the Air Corps. With the withdrawal of aircraft from Gormanston and the relocation of Air Corps headquarters to Baldonnel, the Air Corps has the basis for better management of its resources. Baldonnel will continue to be the centre of military aviation in Ireland. Periodic interest has been expressed by the private sector during the past...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 29, 44 and 67 together. The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime Defence requirements. The Naval Service operates eight general-purpose patrol ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 20, 43, 52 and 175 together. UNIFIL was originally established on 19 March 1978 under United Nations Security Council resolutions 425 and 426, following the invasion of Lebanon by Israel, with a mandate "to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli Forces, to restore international peace and security and to assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 21 and 66 together. KFOR was established on 10 June, 1999, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, for an initial period of twelve months, to continue thereafter unless the UN Security Council decides otherwise. KFOR's mandate is to establish a secure environment in Kosovo conducive to the implementation of refugee return and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I presume the Deputy is referring to a recent press article concerning allegations made on a Lebanese television station that a member of the Irish Army had been fighting alongside Israeli soldiers during the recent conflict in Lebanon. As the basis for its assertion, the television station reported that the identity card of a member of the Irish Defence Forces was found amongst items...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 47 together. 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Remuneration: Defence Forces Remuneration (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Since 1958, the Defence Forces has had a continuous and distinguished presence on peacekeeping duties throughout the world and are currently contributing 677 personnel to 19 different missions. The main commitments are to the United Nations Mission to Liberia (UNMIL), to the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo and to EUFOR, the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina....

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 56 together. The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and the Inter-Departmental Working Group meet on a regular basis. The last Task Force meeting was held on Tuesday 3rd October 2006. The Inter-Departmental Working Group (IDWG) last met on 20 September 2006. While dates have not been decided for the next Task Force or IDWG meetings, these are...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation, announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement on 3 December 2003, provides for the transfer of all of my Department's Dublin based civil service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. Sixty staff from within my Department have opted to move to Newbridge, and in addition twenty-nine...

Written Answers — European Defence Agency: European Defence Agency (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The European Defence Agency Steering Board met in National Armaments Directors formation in Brussels on 20th September, 2006. The EDA Steering Board meets at different levels i.e. at ministerial level and at official level. In the case of meetings at National Armaments Directors level, an official from my Department acts as our representative at the Steering Board and attended the meeting....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that the fuel bill for military vehicles in 2004 was €2,179,782. The corresponding figure for 2005 was €2,766,692.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 55, 172 and 173 together. The Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. The potential threats to the State arising from terrorism are continuously monitored by them in cooperation with the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces make contingency plans for a range of scenarios...