Results 10,721-10,740 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: People who volunteer will not be deployed in that case. If we were short a vital member of staff such as an explosives expert, engineer or medic we would not be able to deploy them. We would have to go without them if we did not get somebody to volunteer. I am sure the ordinary troops and those specialists will volunteer but it is a residual right of the Government. We are signed up to be...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: That is not possible. The Attorney General has advised that no foreign troops bearing arms under foreign command are entitled to be on Irish soil.

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Those troops are passing through. The situation postulated will not come to pass. The deployment of the assembly will be within the framework nation and everything will happen quickly after that.

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 65 together. I am keen to increase the number of women applying to join our Defence Forces. To facilitate this, with effect from 1 September 2006, I reduced the minimum height requirement for entry into both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force from 162.56 cm, 5'4", to 157.48 cm, 5'2". This change, which applies to both males and...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Ministers always say this when they do not want to answer a question but I am glad Deputy Timmins asked me that question.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No, I want to enlighten Deputy Timmins. The research will be available in eight weeks' time. Regarding the second question, the Department wrote to a list of organisations and I was disappointed with the response. The only group to respond with concrete proposals was, believe it or not, the ICA.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Other groups wished us well and thought it was a good idea. The Department also invited submissions from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, and have not had a response from either.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: We sought proposals in the middle of last year. Most groups, apart from PDFORRA and RACO, responded but the responses did not advance the cause. A response that congratulates us on the idea is very different from one with concrete suggestions. I propose to issue a tabular statement on the number of women working in the Defence Forces. The latest figures available show 9,837 males in the...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The number of females applying has increased. Some 5% to 6% of the Army is female, but last year 9.5% of applicants were female and 10.5% of recruits were female. The number recruited is proportionate to the number applying. We are trying to increase the number of females applying by increasing the pool from 60% to 90% and by carrying out research to determine what other measures must be...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not see any objection to that and will discuss it with my officials. I intended to commission research in any case and had sought Government approval for it. The responses provided no new ideas and this disappointed me, in view of the range of organisations contacted.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I look forward to discovering the results of the research. I wrote to the organisations and asked for their suggestions on how to attract more women into the Defence Forces. The research will go deeper than this aspect. Women who have served in the Defence Forces will be interviewed about their experience of life there and women who have not served in the Defence Forces will be interviewed...

Bullying in the Workplace. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I assure the Deputy that any allegations of bullying and harassment in the Defence Forces are treated with the utmost seriousness. There are extensive processes in place to protect the rights of Defence Forces personnel, including PDFORRA officials. These procedures give robust protection and I urge PDFORRA officials to avail of them if they feel there are issues to be resolved. As I have...

Bullying in the Workplace. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As Deputy Ó Snodaigh rightly acknowledged, the situation was examined by Dr. Doyle in 2002. She discovered a number of difficulties in respect of people making complaints about bullying. She made a number of recommendations, which were implemented, as outlined, in 2004. The situation is being kept under review because the Chief of Staff has a very personal interest and takes a hands-on...

Defence Forces Staff. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 19 together. The regulations governing the promotion of enlisted personnel are provided for in Defence Force regulations A 10, part II, as issued by the Minister for Defence. The more detailed procedures and criteria for the promotion of enlisted personnel are further provided for in "A" administrative instruction, Defence Forces, part 10, as issued by...

Defence Forces Staff. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not have any independent evidence that the present promotional system is not strictly adhered to as intended. A number of experts are of the view the present system must be updated and the Department of Defence has accepted that. Departmental officials and PDFORRA are discussing a mutually agreeable new system and that reply also applies to the final question. The matter is in...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 39 together. On 2 February 2006, I received a report from Mr. Sean Hurley, whom I appointed to carry out an independent review of the interaction between the Department of Defence and Defence Forces and the parents and family of Private Kevin Barrett in the aftermath of his tragic death, on 18 February 1999, while serving with the 84th Infantry...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I keep the family informed. I do not know whether all witnesses were available. I handed the matter over to the Garda Síochána and a Garda investigation is being conducted at the level of chief superintendent. I hope it will be concluded by the end of the year. We should not discuss exhumation orders in the House. I am in close touch with Mrs. Barrett, Kevin Barrett's mother, and she...

Order of Business (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy should look behind him.