Results 11,401-11,420 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: The most important defence against any gas or chemical terrorist attack is detection and prevention by the security forces. While the Garda Síochána has 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, the Garda Síochána. The various components of the...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 250 together. 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...

Written Answers — Common Security and Defence Policy: Common Security and Defence Policy (7 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I have not had any discussions with my EU colleagues in the matter of co-operation or training with other EU forces. However, Defence Forces personnel have for many years attended workshops, training courses, desktop exercises, seminars and other events overseas as part of their military training and I expect that they will continue to do so. The Defence Forces have also attended training...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. 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...

Written Answers — Security Escort Service: Security Escort Service (7 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: An annual contribution of €2.86 million has been paid by the banks to my Department in respect of the provision of cash escorts. This figure was set by the Department of Finance in the 1995 budget and had not been altered since. The contribution from the banks was designed to cover part of the total cost to the State of providing cash escorts. At that time, the contribution covered...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. The Defence Forces are committed to providing support to the civil authorities specifically with regard to search and rescue. The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region, and the Naval Service and the Air Corps provide support to the...

Written Answers — Unmarked Graves: Unmarked Graves (6 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I will have the matter examined by my officials and I will revert to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Airport Safety Zones: Airport Safety Zones (6 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Red safety areas were first adopted at Casement Aerodrome following a review in 1992 by Aer Rianta, on behalf of the Department of Defence, of policy in regard to safety zones at the aerodrome and were introduced to ensure the safe and unobstructed operation of air traffic to and from Casement Aerodrome. International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recommendations in regard to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (6 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised me that consistent with the regulatory requirements and administrative instructions, officers have been appointed as commanding officers of reserve engineer, CIS, transport and military police units. These appointments are filled by officers of the Reserve Defence Force.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (1 Dec 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 236, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: International military observers and staff officers course: Fundamentals of UN peacekeeping; UN mission administration; Operational duties and the military observer; Command and staff duties for UN missions; and Health, safety and survival. International military police...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (30 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: All applicants for a cadetship in the Permanent Defence Force are required to be in good mental and bodily health and free from any physical defect, abnormality, physiological condition or past history of serious illness likely to interfere with the efficient performance of his-her duties. The professional advise of the medical military authority is that a person who is a diabetic is below...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (30 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Health and Children is responsible for policy formation in respect of pre-hospital emergency care, and the Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the provision of ambulance services throughout the state. A detailed service level agreement for the provision of an air ambulance service by the Air Corps, prepared by my Department and the Department of Health...

Written Answers — Courts-Martial: Courts-Martial (30 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces policy is that commanders are advised to exercise their quasi-judicial statutory discretion by way of the award of confinement to barracks, or the award of a monetary fine, rather than detention, when considering punishment. During the week ending 27 November 2005 the number of Defence Forces personnel confined to barracks was eight: 4th Western Brigade, one person under...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (29 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The premises in question are currently leased by my Department to the Irish United Nations Veterans' Association under an agreement dated 26 February 2004. Under the terms of the lease the responsibility to maintain the premises rests with the Irish United Nations Veterans' Association and in these circumstances it would not be appropriate for my Department to provide funding for its upkeep.

Written Answers — Airport Safety Zones: Airport Safety Zones (29 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I would refute the Deputy's characterisation of Casement Aerodrome. Red safety areas were first adopted at Casement Aerodrome following a review in 1992 by Aer Rianta, on behalf of the Department of Defence, of policy on safety zones at the aerodrome. International civil aviation organisation standards and recommendations on obstacle limitation surfaces for airports as well as considerations...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (29 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: My Department's entire Dublin based civil service staff of 202 is due to decentralise to Newbridge, County Kildare. Of these, a total of 59 have opted to move to Newbridge. During the course of 2005, nine staff have been assigned to this Department for the purpose of relocating to Newbridge. Two members of my staff who opted not to move to Newbridge have been reassigned to other Departments...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I take it that the Deputy's question relates to major capital projects which must be the subject of a detailed cost benefit analysis in accordance with the guidelines for appraisal and management of capital expenditure proposals in the public sector. The guidelines require that a cost benefit analysis be carried out on certain projects valued at over €5 million; and on all projects valued...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (24 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As I said in response to Question No. 367 of 9 November last, formal notification of the posting of officers to appointments in the Defence Forces, including Reserve Defence Force officers, is effected by means of an amendment to the Gazette. Such amendments are normally published monthly in arrears. The military authorities have informed me that the publication of a special Gazette...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (24 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan was formally launched by my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, in July 2004. The plan, which was formulated following extensive consultation, received broad support, particularly from the representative association of the Reserve Defence Force. The plan, which will be implemented between now and the end of 2009, will significantly enhance...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (24 Nov 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Some 108 officers in the Reserve Defence Force did not apply for appointments in the Reserve Defence Force. The military authorities issued comprehensive procedures to provide for the assignment of reservists, including officers, to the Reserve Defence Force. The officers who did not apply for appointments have been appointed, where vacancies exist, to a unit in their area. Other officers...