Results 11,381-11,400 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces: Motion. (15 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Members from all sides who spoke on this very important motion and join with Deputy Timmins in his Christmas wishes to the families of the approximately 746 troops serving overseas. I agree with the Deputy regarding troops who have been killed that closure should be brought to their families; I fully accept that. I also reassure him and the rest of the House that all outstanding...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There are no agencies or bodies of the type referred to by the Deputy for which I have no responsibility to Dáil Eireann with regard to replying to parliamentary questions for oral or written reply.

Written Answers — Army Training Programme: Army Training Programme (14 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I have been advised by the military authorities that the cost of training these 460 individuals is not readily available and cannot be readily compiled. The expenditure in terms of time and resources required to research this information would be disproportionate to the public interest in such information.

Written Answers — Military Medical Services: Military Medical Services (13 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military medical services and their facilities exist primarily to maintain the health of the Defence Forces and to support them in operational and overseas activities. The reorganisation of the Medical Corps, which was effected as part of the Defence Forces review implementation plan in November 1998, redirected the focus of military medical care from a predominantly hospital based...

Written Answers — Airport Safety Zones: Airport Safety Zones (13 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As I explained in my reply to Questions Nos. 139 to 142, inclusive, on 15 June 2004, the red safety areas are essentially two-dimensional surfaces on the ground originating 60 m beyond the runway thresholds, have a width of 300 m and diverge at a rate of 15% at each side to a width of 700 m and have an overall length of 1,370 m in the case of each runway. The runway approach surfaces are...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (13 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that six snowmobiles obtained by the Department of Defence during 1981-82 were donated by the Canadian Government via Bombardier Aerospace. I understand that the snowmobiles were written off in 2000 due to the fact that they were obsolete and uneconomic to repair. The Defence Forces have no plans to replace the snowmobiles.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There are two permanent civil servants employed in the office of the Minister of State for Defence comprising of one higher executive officer and a clerical officer. At current rates and since 1 January 2005, the salaries of these staff amounted to €86,946 per annum. Costs in relation to overtime and expenses, travel and subsistence have amounted to €1,525.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (13 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the cadetship competition, apprenticeship competition, general service enlistment or direct entry competitions, which are held to fill vacancies in specialist appointments. All applicants for each of these entry streams are required to meet qualifying criteria. The Defence Forces equality policy, which was produced and formalised some...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (13 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Curragh Camp area comprises some 312 hectares, 771 acres, known as Brown Lands. The Curragh of Kildare Act 1868, granted the military authorities exclusive use of the Curragh Camp. This was confirmed by the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961. The camp is the national training centre for the Defence Forces.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Inquiries: Defence Forces Inquiries (13 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I undertook during Priority Questions last Thursday, 3 November 2005 that I will have the relevant records in military archives examined to establish the factual position in this regard. I expect that this process will be completed shortly. I will communicate further with the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (13 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised me that consistent with the regulatory requirements as defined in DFR CS4, and Chief of Staff Administrative Instruction CS4, Organisation of the Defence Forces, Staffs, Units and Other Establishments, officers have been appointed as commanding officers of Reserve Engineer, CIS, Transport and Military Police units. These appointments are effective with...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I should explain that the sick pay arrangements for civilian employees of my Department apply to this person. In general, civilian employees may be granted up to six months' sick leave at full pay in any period of 12 months and half-pay thereafter, subject to a maximum of 12 months sick leave of any kind, full pay, half-pay or without pay, in any period of four years or less. Civilian...

Order of Business (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Broughan should speak for himself.

Order of Business. (8 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I might mention the Deputy. He turned up one day in the ratings.

Overseas Missions: Referral to Select Committee. (8 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approve the despatch, pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960, as applied by the Defence (Amendment) Act 1993, of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), established on 19 September 2003, under UN Security Council Resolution 1509 (2003) in carrying out...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Investigation: Defence Forces Investigation (7 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: On 16 December 1983 Private Patrick Kelly was part of a joint Garda-Army cordon search of Ballinamore Wood, Ballyconnell, County Leitrim, following the kidnapping of Mr. Don Tidey. During this search Private Kelly sustained fatal gunshot injuries. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, at the time, a full-scale investigation was immediately launched, which involved the arrest of persons...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I attended the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, meeting in Defence Ministers formation on 21 November 2005 at which progress in developing military capabilities was one of the items discussed. Under military capabilities, the discussions focused on the requirements catalogue for 2005, the single progress report and the headline goal questionnaire. Comprehensive planning...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised that the deputy chief of staff has recommended the continuance in service of the individual in question.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Four permanent civil servants are employed in my private office, comprising one higher executive officer, one executive officer, one staff officer and one clerical officer. At current rates and since 1 January 2005, the salaries of these staff amounted to €144,018 per annum. Costs in regard to overtime and expenses, travel and subsistence, have amounted to €3,966. Six permanent civil...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for the Minister for Defence. I am aware that significant investment has taken place in recent years and I will continue the good work in that regard. The unprecedented level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service was made possible by the Government's decision that pay savings...