Results 10,821-10,840 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There is provision for an annual report to be debated in the House and it is repeated in the legislation. In practice, the report is laid before the Dáil and the Whips ask for it to be referred to a committee. There is no barrier to it being debated in the House and if party Whips want such a debate, I have no objection. If they communicate their views to me, I will talk to my Whip about it.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Seven Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with the UN authorised International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. All personnel are stationed in the Kabul area. Three (3) personnel are employed at ISAF HQ while the remaining four (4) personnel are working with the Kabul Multinational Brigade (KMNB). The three (3) personnel at ISAF HQ hold staff appointments in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am pleased to say that I have recently received the military authorities report on the minimum height standards for Defence Force personnel prepared in the context of encouraging more women to apply to join the Defence Forces. The report deals comprehensively with the complex issues relating to this matter and as such requires careful consideration. As the Deputy will be aware from my...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As indicated in Budget 2006, the capital spending envelopes available to my Department under the Multi-Annual Capital Investment Framework for the period to 2010 are: €m 2006 26 2007 30 2008 35 2009 40 2010 45. A key element of these arrangements is that they permit the carryover into the following year of unspent capital up to a maximum of 10% of the voted...

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Information technology purchasing requirements for my Department, including Defence Forces requirements, for the second half of 2006 amount to approximately €400,000. These requirements ensure the continuation of maintenance and support for installed systems, software and hardware and the purchase of PC's, servers, licences and related items. Many of these are subject to contractual...

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Purchasing policy in relation to ICT services in my Department follows the Public Procurement Guidelines as set out by the National Public Procurement Policy Unit in 2004, the Public Procurement Framework document in 2005, Department of Finance Circulars and Guidelines, military Standard Operating Procedures and other relevant documents, such as the Quigley Report and associated guidelines.

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The percentage of information technology spend in my Department that went to Irish SMEs in each year from 2002 to date in 2006 is, on average, 40%, the balance being spent with larger multinational organisations. The percentage for European Union and European Economic Area SMEs in the same period is minimal. There are no systems in place in my Department to give preference to any class of...

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The average size of information technology procurement contracts in my Department, including the Defence forces, in 2006 currently ranges from approximately €300,000 for larger contracts to €100,000 for medium contracts and €25,000 for smaller contracts. The median size of such contracts is currently about €35,000.

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In line with public procurement policy as outlined at central government level, and to achieve maximum value for money, my Department engages in open tendering to the greatest possible extent. This requires advertising in the EU Journal and extensive use of the e-tenders website to enable a wide range of responses from interested vendors. Within these parameters, the Irish information and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As the house is aware, Ireland is currently in discussion with Sweden, regarding our participation in the Nordic Battle group. Our participation in the Battle group concept in no way weakens or undermines Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. Ireland's participation in EU-led peace support operations, including operations which may be undertaken by Rapid Response...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (4 Jul 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) issued comprehensive Administrative Instructions to provide for the filling of appointments in the Reserve Defence Force, to enable the reorganisation of 1st October 2005. Officers volunteered for specific appointments in the establishment and where possible were assigned to their unit and location of preference. The military authorities have informed me...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Castlebar Military Barracks is primarily a Reserve Defence Force facility that provides training facilities, office accommodation and storage facilities for Permanent Defence Force Cadre and Unit personnel of Units stationed in the Barracks. The estimated cost of the refurbishment works necessary to effect compliance with building, health and safety, and fire regulations in order to provide...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 233 together. Between mid-1997 and January 2003, a Defence Forces military police contingent (of 50 personnel) served in the NATO-led Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR), following Dáil Éireann approval in July 1997. The Irish contingent formed part of the International Military Police Company at SFOR Headquarters in Sarajevo. The...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Senator Brian Hayes referred to what I said last night about the battle groups and the figure of 3,000. I reiterate that a battle group will consist of only 1,500 troops but the ambition of the European Union, which it has now achieved, is that from next year it can have two battle groups standing by to be deployed simultaneously.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, 1,500 each. One might be deployed to Africa and the other to Asia but they will be deployed simultaneously should that be necessary. I wish to clarify another point on which there appears to be some confusion. The United Nations does not decide to deploy a battle group. The United Nations will ask the EU to intervene and the method of intervention by the EU, as a regional agency, will...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Senator. There were no Irish troops there in either case. They were not part of the UN mission. They were part of a subsequent EU operation. The core of this amendment lies in the definition of international peace mission and the provisions under which a contingent could be despatched on such a mission. The rest of the amendments are consequential to the acceptance of the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Senator Minihan asked about troops being deployed. I envisage a very remote possibility of a humanitarian mission established under section 3(1)(f) subsequently becoming the subject of a United Nations resolution. A humanitarian mission follows an event such as a tsunami or an earthquake and we have given ourselves the right to deploy troops rapidly to help the unfortunate people affected. A...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I suppose it would be possible. In such circumstances, I imagine the troops who had been deployed in accordance with section 3(1)(f) would still be validly there. Obviously, if it became too dangerous we would need to take that into account and might need to withdraw them. The question of their safety would be a matter of agreement between the Government and the host state. If we were...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In practically all those cases the decision to break those promises did not have a subsequent electoral mandate.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not believe the Senator's fear is well founded. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that the Seanad should have an input. In my term as Minister, if a further deployment of troops abroad takes place, I will organise that it be formally reported to the Seanad, which can then make its own arrangements for a debate.