Results 11,621-11,640 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 42 together. During the period 30 May to 1 June, I visited Irish troops serving with KFOR in Kosovo, and EUFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina. During my visit to EUFOR, I met Lord Ashdown, the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Major General A. David Leakey, Force Commander EUFOR on 31 May 2005. The discussions were wide-ranging and included the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: At present Ireland subscribes to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS, under which the State offers to provide up to 850 personnel on overseas service at any given time. Ireland's commitment under the UNSAS represents 10% of the total army strength. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations. At present 749 Defence...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 13 and 48 together. The Irish Aviation Authority, under the aegis of the Department of Transport, is responsible for the safety regulation of Irish airspace. Weston aerodrome is licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority in accordance with the Aerodrome and Visual Ground Aids Order, and in issuing the licence, the authority's remit extends to aviation safety...

Written Answers — Defence Spending: Defence Spending (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 21, 25, 39, 44 and 57 together. There are no implications for defence spending arising from the recommendations of the Western European Union Assembly. Ireland is not a member of the Western European Union, but holds observer status. Following the Treaty of Amsterdam, the EU took over the WEU's crisis management functions but the WEU continues in existence...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: KFOR was established on 10 June 1999 in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 for an initial period of 12 months, to continue thereafter unless the UN Security Council decides otherwise. The role of KFOR is to support the maintenance of civil law and order within Kosovo so as to develop a climate of safety and security, which will enable the transfer of increased responsibility...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan, which was officially launched in July 2004, sets out an ambitious programme of reform and modernisation for the reserve for the period up to end 2009. We are still at a relatively early stage in the lifetime of the plan but I am pleased to say that the implementation deadlines that have been set for specific targets are being met and in...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As Minister for Defence, I am responsible for the Department of Defence's emergency planning objectives, which are to promote the co-ordination of emergency planning functions across all Departments and other key public authorities and to oversee the emergency planning process in general. In pursuing this objective, I chair the Government task force on emergency planning, which comprises...

Written Answers — Military Courts of Inquiry: Military Courts of Inquiry (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 35 and 41 together. Courts of inquiry are internal military inquiries. A court of inquiry may be convened by a prescribed convening authority under the provisions of Defence Force Regulations A5 and Part III of the Rules of Procedure (Defence Forces) 1954, SI No. 243 of 1954. The purpose of a court of inquiry is to allow the convening authority to take...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The most important defence against any terrorist attack is detection and prevention by the security forces. While the Garda 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. In practice, that means that the Defence Forces assist the Garda when requested. The various components of the Defence Forces are...

Written Answers — Civil Defence: Civil Defence (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Civil Defence Act was signed into law in April 2002. The inaugural board of the Civil Defence was appointed with effect from 5 June 2002. As the board's term of office was three years, a new board was appointed in 2005. Section 11 of the Act provides that the board shall consist of at least eight but not more than 14 members who shall be appointed by the Minister for Defence; that not...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 27 and 34 together. I have indicated my willingness to make the facilities at St. Bricin's Military Hospital available to the public health service if the service wishes to secure access to the facilities. Representatives of the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children visited the hospital to inspect its facilities earlier this...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps, continues to be a key focus of mine. In January 2005, two contracts were signed for the provision of new helicopters for the Air Corps at a cost of over €61 million. Four utility helicopters are being acquired from Bell Agusta Aerospace Company at a cost of €48.4 million, inclusive of VAT. The helicopters,...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 49 and 60 together. Visits to and from the chiefs of staff of armed forces of other countries are primarily a matter for the Army Chief of Staff. From time to time, courtesy calls from visiting foreign military personnel are arranged with me, subject to the demands of my schedule. The purpose of the trip to Ireland of the chairman of the joint chiefs of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 61 together. I last met the flag officer commanding the Naval Service and the general officer commanding the Air Corps on Monday, 25 September 2005, at the review of KFOR troops at Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick. Informal discussions of a general nature took place on that occasion. I am kept fully informed of matters relating to the Naval Service and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The conditions under which the Defence Forces may participate on overseas peace support operations have been made clear by the Government. The system of conditions, which has been referred to as the "triple lock", must be satisfied. I have established an interdepartmental group to examine all issues relating to our possible participation in the battlegroup concept. Among the issues being...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 38, 45, 52 and 66 together. I wish to outline the background to the rapid response elements concept, commonly referred to as battlegroups. Member states set themselves a headline goal at a meeting of the European Council in Helsinki in 1999. They agreed that by 2003, co-operating together and voluntarily, they would be able to deploy rapidly and then...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The office of emergency planning was established following a Government decision in October 2001 as a joint civil and military office within the Department of Defence. The office supports the work of the Government task force on emergency planning, which I chair, and continues to work with Departments and other public authorities to ensure the best possible use of resources and compatibility...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 47 together. A Permanent Defence Force contingent has been serving with the UN mission in Liberia, UNMIL, since December 2003. A one-year extension of the initial deployment of one year was approved by the Government in December 2004, subject to the renewal of the UN mandate and a satisfactory review of the mission. In the near future, I will bring...

Written Answers — National Security: National Security (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Garda Síochána has 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 the Garda when requested. There are detailed procedures in place to enable the Garda to obtain the assistance of the Defence Forces in matters of law and order when they consider it necessary.

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: While primary responsibility in this area lies with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, a request for assistance from the United States of America in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was received through the EU monitoring and information centre in Brussels. Following consideration by the military authorities it was decided to offer to supply and operate two...