Results 1,981-2,000 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Staff: Defence Forces Staff (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised that no retired Medical Officer of the Permanent Defence Force has any claim as of right to be engaged to provide medical services to the Defence Forces. When and where a need arises to engage a civilian medical practitioner to provide services to the Defence Forces, the services of a suitable practitioner(s) living in the area of the post in question...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Sale Contract for transfer of lands, which are the subject of this question, to the relevant Local Authority is being finalised at present. The Office of the Chief State Solicitor, acting on behalf of my Department, is awaiting a response from the Solicitor to the Authority concerned in relation to an outstanding aspect of the Contract conditions. On finalisation of the outstanding...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 and 517 together. An Garda Síochána have the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána), which duties include the protection and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, Apprenticeship Competition, General Service Enlistment or Direct Entry Competitions which are held to fill vacancies in specialist appointments. All applicants for each of these entry streams are required to meet qualifying criteria. The question of the recruitment of foreign-nationals to the Defence Forces is...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Haulbowline Island comprises approximately 84 acres in total and is, in its entirety, vested in the Minister for Finance. The area of the Island formerly under Lease to Irish Ispat, and now under the administration of the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government arising from the liquidation of that Company, covers c. 44 acres. My Department administers the balance of the...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig was completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of the lands were purchased by O'Flynn Construction. The sale of a site comprising c. 2.7 acres to the Southern Health Board for €1.73 million was completed in December 2004. 19.218 acres at the former Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, were sold to Cork County Council...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The term "Regimental Duties" is no longer used within the Defence Forces and has been replaced by reference to "Security Duties". However, the information requested by the Deputy is not disclosed for operational and security reasons.

Written Answers — Defences Forces Training: Defences Forces Training (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 524 together. The Army Apprentice School at the former Devoy Barracks Naas was closed in September 1998. There were only 28 apprentices remaining in the School at the time. The annual costs of running the Army Apprentice School were estimated to be about IR£2.85 million in 1998. Therefore, the average cost of training each apprentice had reached a...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in a tabular statement which indicates the manning levels of vessels (all ranks). Vessel Category Maximum Manning Possible Recommended Level of Manning as per NSIP1 Minimum Manning as per Naval Service Operations Command2 Average Sailing Manning3 Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV) 86 52 38 53 Large Patrol Vessel (LPV) 49 39 30 40 Offshore...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2005-2007 recognises among its various objectives the need to train and to develop members of the Defence Forces, so that they can fulfil their roles effectively and fulfil their individual training and developmental goals. One of the strategies in the Statement designed to achieve this objective is the provision of opportunities for individuals to...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: My colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs has the lead role in relation to this issue. I understand that extensive efforts have been made by the consular service of the Department of Foreign Affairs to assist and support the family at this difficult time. The consular service has also maintained ongoing contact with the local police force, rescue services, politicians and senior...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: This question does not apply to my Department at this time.

Military Intelligence. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There is no specific allocation of funds for military intelligence. The cost involved is partly met from funds provided from the Secret Service Vote, which is accounted for by the Minister for Finance, and partly from the relevant subheads of the Defence Vote, including pay from subhead B and allowances from subhead C. The total expended on military intelligence is not separately compiled...

Military Intelligence. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks, the Government reviewed security arrangements, particularly in respect of military intelligence. Consequently, in the past three or four years, provision for military intelligence has been substantially increased. The numbers of Army staff engaged in such work has increased substantially in the past three or four years. The sum of...

Military Intelligence. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will take on board any constructive suggestions. It is impossible, as countries such as Israel and the United states will testify, to have a system that provides absolute protection against the possibility of a terrorist attack. Nevertheless, the emergency planning committee includes the Garda and the Army, as well as the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Defence. It...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: It is extremely difficult for any family when a member of the family goes missing far from home. I can only empathise with the terrible situation in which the family find themselves. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has the lead role in respect of this issue. I understand from him that extensive efforts have been made by the consular service of the Department of Foreign...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I note Deputy Costello's comments about the initial investigation and I do not wish to comment one way or another on it. According to information received by me, there have been six large scale searches and a number of more localised searches. The information received by us indicates that there has been no deficiency in the follow-up searches and that the local authorities are doing...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: We are continually in touch with the local authorities and if they want my help, they can ask for it.

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister for Foreign Affairs has offered to meet the family if it so wishes.

Retirement of Army Officer. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The individual concerned was retired by the President, on the advice of the Government, with effect from a date in June 1969. The retirement was effected pursuant to section 47(2) of the Defence Act 1954 and paragraph 18(1)(f) of Defence Force Regulations A.15, which provide that an officer may be retired "in the interests of the service". The House will appreciate that a decision to retire...