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

National Emergency Plan. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government task force on emergency planning, which I chair, was established in October 2001. The membership of the task force includes Ministers, senior officials of Departments, senior officers of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána and officials of other key public authorities that have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. I can provide a list of the people...

National Emergency Plan. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: No. It has been my practice since becoming Minister to call the emergency planning task force together on at least a monthly basis, which will continue. The next meeting is tomorrow afternoon. No member of the task force said anything that would necessarily alarm me or drew my attention to serious deficiencies. Each plan is a matter for the relevant lead Department. For example, the public...

National Emergency Plan. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The plan was prepared by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. I am aware of it and can make a copy available to Deputy Timmins, if he wishes. He can evaluate it himself.

National Emergency Plan. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A definitive plan exists. I wish to explore aspects of it with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. As there will be a large representation at tomorrow's meeting, we can refine the plan there. I have no difficulty making the plan available for the Deputy's perusal.

Defence Forces Training. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A number of educational programmes are undertaken in the Defence Forces in regard to international humanitarian law. The military authorities advise that the position is as follows. Lectures on international humanitarian law are conducted by legal officers on all basic officers courses in the Military College. In addition, a day-long seminar on international humanitarian law is conducted for...

Defence Forces Training. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy is correct that there is no reference in the White Paper to this aspect. Nevertheless, the position remains that officers — those in charge — get a very good grounding in international humanitarian law, which includes human rights law. To be frank, I do not know whether the course includes a specific section on sexual harassment, but I will find out and let the Deputy know. I...

Defence Forces Training. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Since becoming Minister, I have not been aware of any investigation in that line and I do not know the outcome of any such investigations. I am not aware that anybody was specifically punished, dealt with or otherwise. Therefore, I must conclude the investigations found no case to answer or insufficient evidence to condemn anybody. We send personnel to the international course in San Remo to...

Defence Forces Regulations. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Medical treatment of military personnel is carried out as far as possible in a military hospital or other medical facility under the auspices of the Army medical corps. If the necessary treatment is outside the scope of the Army medical corps, non-commissioned personnel, including recruits, are referred for treatment in the public health service. Such personnel, in common with all citizens,...

Defence Forces Regulations. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: It appears unreasonable on the face of it that distinction should be made in such an instance between officers and ordinary members of the Defence Forces. That is the way things have been traditionally because it was assumed that enlisted men and women had more access and eligibility under the public health service than officers. Obviously I have inherited that situation and it will be...

Defence Forces Regulations. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: If recruits, particularly those injured in training, are discharged because they cannot have access to the public health service within the requisite six months, I agree that is unfair and must be looked at.

Bullying in the Workplace. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 114, 124 and 131 together. My previous reply on this subject detailed the comprehensive measures which have been taken since Dr. Eileen Doyle and the external advisory committee presented their report, The Challenge of a Workplace, in March 2002. The contents and recommendations of the report were accepted in full. The military authorities advise that...

Bullying in the Workplace. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I agree. How the Defence Forces operate is predicated on the simple assumption that lawful orders must be obeyed. Accordingly, the discipline in the Defence Forces not just in this country but elsewhere in the world is different from the relationship between a manager and employee of a factory or office. Sometimes, what might be reasonably interpreted as bullying in the workplace would not...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (22 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The issues raised in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy are not a matter for the Department of Defence, nor has an application to use Defence Forces facilities been received from the group in question.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (22 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The person appointed to be the ombudsman for the Defence Forces will be selected through a process of open public competition held by the Public Appointments Service. This competition will be advertised as soon as possible. As regards the matter of former members of the Defence Forces making application to the Defence Forces ombudsman, on his-her appointment, the position is that the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (22 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Personnel on being discharged from the Permanent Defence Force are obliged to vacate married quarters within a short period of the dates of their discharge. The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married military personnel have an equal claim on such housing as other members of the community in the same income category. My Department is continuing to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (22 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: To date 85 of the 100 houses at Orchard Park have been sold to the occupants. A contract of sale and deed of transfer have been executed in respect of another case. Two further houses are in the process of being sold by tender and it is expected that these sales will also be completed in 2005. The sales of the remaining 12 quarters to the occupants are being actively pursued.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (22 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Kildare County Council has advised that the roads, services etc. at Orchard Park will have to be brought up to the required standard before they will be taken in charge. It is hoped to undertake a programme of works later in the year to ensure the facilities at the estate are up to the standard required. In the interim a contractor is being engaged to carry out emergency repairs to the roads.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (17 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is as follows: Department's headquarters, Parkgate, Dublin: waste is collected by a private waste disposal company which separates and recycles waste matter where possible. However, the company does not return any figures to my Department for the weight of the waste disposed of; Department's offices, Glasnevin: waste is collected by Dublin City Council;...

Written Answers — Departmental Credit Cards: Departmental Credit Cards (17 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The total expenditure in respect of the use of credit cards from 6 June 2002 to 29 September 2004 is as follows: Name No. of Transactions Total Expenditure â'¬ Minister M. Smith 32 4,339.90 Private Secretary to Minister 92 72,955.11 Secretary General 30 6,120.77 Human Resources Manager 3 331.14 The total expenditure in respect of the use ofcredit cards in the period 30...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has awarded one contract for public relations projects in the last three years. Sweeney Communications Limited was paid €12,235, less withholding tax, in June 2002. No other payment was made to the company in question either before or since that date.