Results 11,061-11,080 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Deployment: Defence Forces Deployment (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: An Garda Síochána have the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána), which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations. I have been advised by the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. In accordance with the terms of Section 2 of the Act, the President, acting upon the recommendation of the Government, appointed Ms Paulyn Marrinan Quinn SC as Ombudsman for the Defence Forces with effect from the 19th September 2005. The Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Civil Defence Board has completed its relocation from Dublin to its new premises in Roscrea, County Tipperary. The number of Civil Defence personnel who have relocated to Roscrea is 17; the number of those who were in the Civil Defence headquarters in Dublin is 11. This does not include 2 personnel who had re-located from Civil Defence headquarters in Dublin to Roscrea but have since left...

Written Answers — Air Corps Support: Air Corps Support (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: To aid the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, An Garda Síochána who have the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State) is among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces. In this regard, the Defence Forces assist the Gardaí as required in duties, which include cash escorts, prison escorts and explosives...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (9 May 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 by the private sector has been expressed during the past...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 124 together. I am advised by the Attorney General that there is a constitutional impediment to the training and exercising of foreign troops in Ireland and, as such, there are no plans for the training of foreign troops in this country. It is expected that training for EU Battlegroups will normally take place in the country of the lead or framework...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The emergency plan for Dublin Harbour is a matter for the Dublin Port Harbourmaster. The Naval Service has no role in this emergency plan.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Deployment: Defence Forces Deployment (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The current deployment of the Permanent Defence Force, which comprises the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is based on and derives from the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan 1996-1998 and the subsequent White Paper on Defence of February 2000. The main focus during this period was on the restructuring of the Defence Forces into a more rationally structured and streamlined...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The most important defence against any terrorist attack is detection and prevention by the security forces. While An Garda Síochána have the primary responsibility for law and order, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána. The various components of the Defence Forces are...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships. The details of the ships are in the form of a tabular statement which follows. All eight ships are fitted with primary and secondary armament. The Primary armament ranges from 40 mm to 76 mm and secondary armament ranges from 12.5 mm to 20 mm. The ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance by...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As the House will be aware I established an Interdepartmental Group to examine all issues relating to Ireland's potential participation in an EU-led rapid response capability. The Group reported to me in November 2005 and, since then, its report has been considered by the Cabinet Sub Committee on European Affairs and, informally, by the Government. As part of its study the Group recommended...

Written Answers — Airspace Encroachments: Airspace Encroachments (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by Air Corps Air Traffic Services that there were 16 encroachments in 2004 and 17 encroachments in 2005 into military airspace, i.e. those portions of airspace designated for use by the Defence Forces during periods when those areas had been notified to civil air traffic services as being active, without an air traffic control clearance. The records held by the Air Corps do not...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force. This comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force is continuous in order to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper,...

Written Answers — Air Corps Personnel: Air Corps Personnel (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 466 together. I would like to take this opportunity to once again acknowledge the supreme sacrifice of the Air Corps personnel who so tragically lost their lives in the Tramore helicopter crash and to extend my renewed sympathy to their families, to their friends and also to their colleagues in the Air Corps. We all recognise and appreciate the nature...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search & Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue Region. The White Paper on Defence establishes the roles of the Defence Forces as including the provision of assistance to civil authorities as and when required. The Defence Forces have never been found wanting in this regard, and in the event of any...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Naval Service operates eight general-purpose patrol ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance by maintaining a Naval and Maritime service for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies such as Internal Waters, Territorial Sea and the Irish Sector of the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the high seas. They operate as the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: An 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. It is important that all prudent precautions are taken and that matters are kept under continuous review. The objective of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The safety and health of Irish personnel serving overseas is always of paramount concern to me and it is my policy and practice to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately prepared and equipped to carry out their mission. The ongoing equipment modernisation programme ensures that the Defence Forces are fully equipped with the most modern of equipment for their day-to-day roles...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland is currently contributing approximately 765 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement attached. The main commitments are to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), with 422 personnel, to the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo, with...