Results 12,181-12,200 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There is no doubt the advice I have received will be debated in various fora throughout the country. A Cabinet sub-committee on European affairs is examining the terms of the draft EU constitution. The advice we have is that the triple lock is perfectly consistent with signing up to the section of the draft EU constitution containing the concept of common or mutual defence. Deputy Gormley...

Overseas Missions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am committed to the triple lock as it stands. On the proposals I will bring to Cabinet, as I said, we have set up a group which is divided into three subgroups to consider all the issues on participation in rapid reaction units. I will take the conclusions of those groups to Cabinet where we will discuss them. That is the position. People have asked if we should make a decision on this...

Overseas Missions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: We are firmly in control of foreign policy. We devise our own foreign policy and do not look to China, America, Indonesia or elsewhere. My advice was that we did not need a UN mandate to deploy people on a voluntary basis overseas, as has always been done. For example, it was done in Mozambique and Honduras. I imagine the subgroups will report by the summer. The overall group met in December....

Overseas Missions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I understand that but I do not agree. This is a debate we will have over a long period. Second, I reject Deputy Gormley's assertion that there is something lacking in the independence of Ireland's foreign policy. We are part of the EU and have certain responsibilities and obligations in this regard. However, by and large, Ireland controls its own foreign policy.

Overseas Missions. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The answer to the first of Deputy Sherlock's questions is "yes". I am committed to the principle of not involving Irish troops in any military operation unless mandated by the UN. Regarding the triple-lock procedure, the present position will be maintained. I can only give the Deputy my word. I speak on behalf of the Government in assuring the Deputy that it is Government policy that the...

Army Intelligence Operations. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 1276 together. Both the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces perform complementary roles in the protection of the security of the State. There is ongoing and close liaison between the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding internal security matters, including in the intelligence field. Both agencies gather and share information and...

Army Intelligence Operations. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There is no justification for maintaining surveillance on people just because they happen to be political activists whose views do not coincide with the mainstream political opinions of the day. Military intelligence reports to me and I assure the House that nobody is under surveillance from military intelligence anyway simply because they happen to be involved in politics or democratic...

Army Intelligence Operations. (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the State papers to which the Deputy refers. However, I will not make any comment or second-guess the judgment of the people who decided to put anybody under surveillance at any time. That was done by people in military intelligence and was sanctioned by or at least known to those who were Ministers at the time. I answer for military intelligence now and take full responsibility...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (23 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: An area comprising more than 27 acres of the property in question is being handed over to Cork County Council for community use, including the provision of playing pitches. I understand that at meetings held in the County Hall, Cork, in January 2002, between my predecessor and representatives of local GAA and soccer clubs, it was agreed that the soccer club be allocated one pitch on the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (23 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: On 26 July 2004, my predecessor Deputy Michael Smith officially launched the Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan which is the start of a process that will radically change the structure and configuration of the reserve, while preserving its traditional strengths. These include such things as the spirit of voluntary commitment, the maintaining of strong links with local...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (23 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that while there is no statutory requirement for owners or users of communications masts to have electromagnetic field strength tests carried out, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, which is the licensing authority for the use of the radio frequency spectrum in Ireland, has recently completed a large survey of communications facilities on behalf of the Minister...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (23 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The development of EU rapid response elements to carry out crisis management operations was a key aspect of the Helsinki headline goal agreed by the Heads of State and Government in 1999. Following on from the realisation of the Helsinki headline goal, albeit with some shortfalls, earlier this year member states adopted a new headline goal with a horizon of 2010. Under the new headline goal,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (16 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has been approached by a developer who wishes to access his property through a portion of the premises concerned. Officials of my Department, both civil and military, have had discussions with the developer, arising from which plans have been submitted and these are currently under consideration in my Department.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Review: Defence Forces Review (16 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: It is presumed that the Deputy is referring to the recent report of the independent monitoring group which was presented to my predecessor on 24 September 2004 entitled Response to the Challenge of a Workplace, rather than the original report entitled The Challenge of a Workplace, which was published in March 2002, commonly referred to as the Doyle report. The following action has been taken...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (16 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: No survey of the type described by the Deputy has been carried out at the location in question. The mast was erected in 1988 and, apart from normal maintenance and upgrades, the existing equipment has been in situ for several years.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Senator Brian Hayes for that clarification. I understand Senator Maurice Hayes went on to say that if there could be a limited inspectorate role for the ombudsman he would welcome it. However, he concluded at the end of the debate that this would not be possible, that either one had an inspectorate or one did not. Senator O'Meara said that as Members of the Oireachtas we should not...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Senator Brian Hayes is correct that we discussed the issue at some length on Committee Stage. The Bill provides that the Defence Forces ombudsman will be appointed to the office by the President, acting on the recommendation of the Government. This mirrors the mode of appointment of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. The amendment requires that the person appointed to the office of...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: On the recommendation of the Civil Service Commission.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: As I stated previously, the legislation provides for a period not exceeding seven years, with provision for a possible second and subsequent term of appointment. The proposed amendments would provide for a fixed-term appointment of seven years, with a possibility of one second term period of appointment only. The second term would presumably also be a fixed term of seven years, or 14 years in...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Nov 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Senators from all sides of the House for their extraordinarily kind remarks. I am quite overwhelmed and I thank them very much.