Results 10,881-10,900 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — European Defence Agency: European Defence Agency (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: A decision to establish an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments, known as the European Defence Agency (EDA) was formally adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 12 July, 2004. At the meeting of the European Defence Agency Steering Board on 21 November 2005, agreement was reached on an...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: An informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers was held in Brussels on 15 May 2006. At the meeting, progress on the development of Strategic Airlift and the Implementation of the Battlegroup Concept were reviewed. Another important step was the completion of the Requirements Catalogue 2005 and the finalisation of the Headline Goal Questionnaire. It is envisaged that the Force Catalogue will be...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: For security reasons it is not the policy to disclose the number of personnel in each barracks. However, the Tabular Statement which I propose to circulate with the Official Report, shows the information requested by the Deputy by Brigade and Formation rather than by individual barracks.

Written Answers — Hearing Impairment Claims: Hearing Impairment Claims (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In general, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor pays the costs of the State's legal team. This includes Counsel Fees, Medical Fees, Fees for Expert Witnesses, State solicitors, Stenographers etc. These costs are charged to the Vote of the Chief State Solicitor's Office. The Office of the Chief State Solicitor has advised us that in the period 1998 to date, when the vast majority of Army...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: 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 of the seas where State jurisdiction applies such as...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There are only two surviving veterans of the War of Independence who rendered active service and are in receipt of military service pensions from my Department. As regards the question of honouring surviving veterans, the special 90th anniversary commemoration of the events of Easter 1916 constituted a most significant public recognition by the State of the roles played by all who...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 58 and 79 together. On 2 February, 2006, I received a report from Mr. Sean Hurley, who I had appointed to carry out an independent review of the interaction between the Department of Defence/Defence Forces and parents and family of Private Kevin Barrett in the aftermath of his tragic death, on 18 February, 1999, while serving with the 84th Infantry...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In 1975 the former military detention centre at Arbour Hill, together with the former Adjutant General's House and four married quarters adjoining the premises, were handed over to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for use as a civilian prison. My Department has agreed to the transfer of an adjoining site, comprising 1.07 acres approximately, to the Department of Justice,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (22 Jun 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'sDublin based civil service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. A total of 385 personnel, of which 60 are from within the Department, have opted to move to...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 72 together. The lead responsibility for specific emergency planning functions remains with the relevant lead Government Departments and those bodies under their aegis. Emergency plans are coordinated and exercised by the various lead Government Departments at a national level and through the Local Authorities, including the Fire Services, the Health...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In July 2005 the Government approved the establishment of a National Emergency Coordination Centre. The primary purpose of this Centre will be to provide a dedicated, central and multifunctional facility in which a high-level inter-departmental group of Ministers or senior officials would convene to coordinate the response in the event of a national level emergency. A suitable location for...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 56, 63, 64, 73 and 80 together. I established an interdepartmental group made up of representatives from the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces, the Department of An Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General's Office, to examine all issues relating to Ireland's potential participation in an EU-led rapid response...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am conscious of the need to keep the public fully informed of developments in the emergency planning area. Following consultation with the key Government Departments and public authorities involved in emergency planning, I decided in 2005 to proceed with a market research programme into public attitudes and awareness of emergency planning in Ireland. The results of this research, which took...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Military vehicles undergo regular maintenance and overhauls to ensure that they are roadworthy and provide value for money service. When, having regard to age, condition and mileage, vehicles are considered by military transport personnel to have reached the end of their economic life, they are proposed for disposal. Before the disposal action can be commenced, each vehicle requires...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The tender for the supply of foodstuffs is an estimation of requirements published to inform suppliers of the type and quantity of products that may be required on a particular running contract. The tender is not a reflection of the exact diet of members of the Defence Forces. Efforts have been made over the past year by the Food Procurement Section of the Defence Forces to increase the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: With the arrival of the eight new Pilatus aircraft and two EC 135 helicopters and the planned arrival of four AW 139 helicopters, two in November 2006 and two in 2007, the disposal of six Marchetti aircraft, four Dauphin helicopters and one Gazelle helicopter by tender competition is ongoing. Tenders have been received for the Marchetti aircraft and associated spares. It is expected that a...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The lead responsibility for specific emergency planning functions remains with the relevant Government Departments, as do the budgetary and resource management requirements. There are no plans to change this arrangement. Emergency plans are coordinated by the various lead Government Departments at a national level and through the Local Authorities, including the Fire Service, the Health...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The question of the recruitment of foreign-nationals to the Defence Forces is not a new one and Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of foreign-nationals to the Defence Forces. The Cadet Competition is the entry level for recruitment as an Officer of the Defence Forces. I have made changes to the 2006 Cadet competition to broaden the entry criteria thereby making...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 71 and 76 together. The White Paper on Defence outlines the blueprint for a new Reserve Defence Force. An Implementation Plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper vision. This will be rolled out over the period to the end of 2009. The new Reserve will have a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF,...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Air Corps has not received any requests from the Irish Coast Guard or any other agency to assist in a Search and Rescue mission at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow since 1 January 2005. The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue Region. The Air Corps withdrew entirely from the provision of Search and...