Results 10,961-10,980 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not in any way suggest that Deputy Costello is opposed to the Irish presence in Kosovo. I did not mean to imply that at any time. Before we deploy troops abroad following a United Nations resolution, we take the advice of the Attorney General on whether, as the Defence Act 1960 as amended in 1993 stands, we are entitled under the wording of the resolution to deploy troops abroad. The...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Attorney General defined it as including "authorised".

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: He defined it as extending to "authorised", but not extending to "support", "endorsed" or "calls upon". That is why I included that terminology in the new Bill. We will discuss that later. If I can obtain the Attorney General's detailed legal advice I do not see any difficulty in publishing it. I will return to the Deputy on that matter.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The short answer is the legislation does not apply to them. It will only come into play from when the President signs it. I am satisfied they are abroad legally. The advice of the Attorney General on that matter is crystal clear. If I can procure that advice I will be glad to communicate it to Deputy Costello.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Between mid-1997 and January 2003, a Defence Forces military police contingent of approximately 50 personnel served in the NATO-led Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following Dáil Éireann approval in July 1997. The force is known as SFOR. The Irish contingent formed part of the international military police company at SFOR headquarters in Sarajevo. The military police...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The protocol is simply that the Irish troops would not countenance any such activity. Our troops regard such activity as beyond the pale. As to whether they should have been aware of what may have happened, a number of investigations are taking place at present. An investigation by the European Parliament will be discussed on 5 July and voted on the following day. The Council of Europe is...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not know exactly when they became aware of it. I will check and communicate with the Deputy.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As Deputies will be aware, I established an interdepartmental group comprising representatives of the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General to examine all issues relating to Ireland's potential participation in an EU-led rapid response capability force. As part of its study, the...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The advice of the Attorney General is that there is no reference to this sort of matter in the legislation. Successive Governments have presumed they are entitled to send people on ceremonial duty for seminars, sports events etc. when they are not part of a United Nations force. The defence legislation only refers specifically to circumstances in which troops are to be sent abroad as part of...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Attorney General has stated he is almost certain the personnel are serving legally.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: To be doubly sure, we are including the necessary provision so nobody will ever have the slightest doubt about the matter in the future.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Yes.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The KFOR mission and those I discussed with Deputy Costello are part of international United Nations missions, either established or authorised. They are international peacekeeping missions.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I refer to individuals, for example, those in our permanent representation to the EU or the two military personnel serving in the Programme for Peace liaison office in Brussels. These are individuals whereas Deputy Costello's question referred to international peace-support groups.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland has been strongly supportive of the peace process in Sudan, generally, and also in the troubled region of Darfur, providing financial support to the UN-authorised African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) there, as well as seconding an army officer, as a military observer, to it between July 2004 and June 2005. Since July 2005, Ireland has provided one officer — a Logistics Planner —...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: MONUC is the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and was established in February 2000 by Resolution 1291 of the United Nations Security Council. It is headquartered in Kinshasa and consists of about 16,000 troops. Ireland contributes three military observers to the mission. Elections are due to take place in DRC under UN supervision in July 2006. In December 2005, the UN...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 5 July, 2002, following Government Decision S140/45/28/0002 of 2 July, 2002 authorising the provision of seven members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the force. The level of threat to Defence Forces personnel on all Peace Support Operations is kept under constant review and the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 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...