Results 12,141-12,160 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Two contracts have been signed for the provision of six new helicopters for the Air Corps, at a total cost of over €61 million — four new AB 139 helicopters and two EC 135 helicopters. Their primary role will be that of general purpose military operations and training. Primary taskings will include training and operations with the Army, security and aid to the civil power, military...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department that are not subject to the Freedom of Information Acts are the Civil Defence Board, Coiste an Asgard and the Irish Red Cross Society. Proposals for extending FOI are being developed at present in the Department of Finance with a view to extending FOI to other appropriate bodies by the end of 2005....

Written Answers — Army Training Programme: Army Training Programme (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the military authorities that the practice of informing local residents when a night training exercise is planned remains in force at the Curragh. The military authorities have undertaken to regularise the process to ensure that the individual concerned is informed of such activities in the future.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: 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 in the Defence Forces from a predominantly hospital based service to one in which primary, occupational and field support would continue to be further developed. The Medical Corps facilities currently consist of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Retirement benefits by way of pension or gratuity are granted to retiring members of the Permanent Defence Force under the Defence Forces pensions schemes. Under those schemes, the minimum service required to qualify for a pension in the case of NCOs and privates is 21 years and maximum pension accrues over a period of 31 years. Pensions are not pay-related as such but are flat rates which...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Currently, a total of 772 Defence Forces personnel are serving overseas, full details of which are listed in the following table. Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel, configured as a light infantry mounted battalion, for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to 10% of Ireland's standing Army and...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps had been providing search and rescue services but withdrew in October 2004 following a hand-over of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which also provides the service at the country's other SAR bases at Dublin, Shannon and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1286 to 1288, inclusive, together. The strength of females in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank within these services, is provided in the following table. The figures provided are as at 31 December 2000 to 31 December 2004. In the five year period 2000-04 inclusive, the strength of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force grew from 429 to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1291 to 1293, inclusive, together. A total of 28 non-commissioned officers have been commissioned as officers in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service since 1999. The numbers and categories commissioned in each year are detailed in the following tabular statement. Year No. Category 1999 2 2 — Electrical Engineer Officers, Naval Service ...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that the information sought is not immediately available due to archival work being carried out at present on the relevant records. I will write to the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence the only appointments I have made were to the Civil Defence Board, which is a body under the aegis of my Department. Chief Supt. John T. Farrelly was appointed to the board in October 2004, on the nomination of the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána. Commandant Kevin Houston was appointed in November 2004 on the nomination of the Chief of Staff...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Jan 2005)

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 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 on overseas...

Leaders' Questions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Where is the Deputy's party getting the money to buy those votes? It is robbed money.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Robbed money.

Leaders' Questions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Robbed money.

Overseas Missions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government is strongly committed to providing whatever support it can within available resources and capabilities, including the provision of Defence Forces personnel, to the humanitarian relief operation in south-east Asia following the recent tsunami disaster. As soon as the scale of the disaster became clear, the Department of Foreign Affairs deployed a high level technical assessment...

Overseas Missions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I sincerely hope we do not see anything even remotely resembling this incident again in the near future. Deputy Timmins's idea is a good one and I will take it up with my colleagues. The Department of Defence will examine this when considering the deployment of members of the Defence Forces Reserve abroad. Many of the same considerations will apply, such as security of employment and adequate...

Humanitarian Relief. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 117, 123, 136 and 1268 together. As I stated in response to an earlier question on this issue, the Government is strongly committed to providing whatever support it can within available resources and capabilities, including the provision of Defence Forces personnel, to the humanitarian relief operation in south-east Asia following the recent tsunami...

Humanitarian Relief. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: To the best of my knowledge, the funding has been increased at least twice. The Minister for Finance has advised us that there is still capacity to increase the emergency fund that is used in such circumstances. No decision has been made on this as yet but we will examine the question when the technical assessment group issues its final report to us.

Humanitarian Relief. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The reply was contained in my response to Deputy Timmins. We are dealing with the sovereign governments of three countries in the region, not just a single unit. We have deployed the military personnel that were requested of us. It has been indicated to us by the team of the Minister for Foreign Affairs that a small number of further logistics experts of the same type may be required. If so,...