Results 2,061-2,080 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: It is not generally the practice to sell defensive equipment. Such equipment is normally scrapped when it is considered to be defunct. However, there are a number of categories of equipment that are disposed of. The main category relates to military vehicles. Military vehicles undergo regular maintenance and overhauls to ensure that they are roadworthy and provide value for money service....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Wexford Military Barracks stands on approximately one acre. There are currently no plans for any major works at the property, which will continue in use as the HQ of the 33rd Battalion RDF.

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The safety of individuals visiting areas such as the Glen of Imaal is of paramount importance to the Department of Defence and the design and location of information and warning notices is kept under review in order to achieve that objective. An explanatory leaflet which contains a map of the Glen of Imaal and includes details of "do's" and "dont's" has been printed and copies have been...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Accommodation in Cathal Brugha Barracks includes officers married quarters, single living in and low density accommodation for officers and other ranks personnel and billet accommodation used for transit and short term stays for courses etc. There is in the region of 350 personnel accommodated at present. In addition, there are twelve other ranks married quarters located outside Cathal...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No recent major exercises have been carried out by the Reserve Defence Force. The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a new Reserve Defence Force which will have a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better equipment and training and opportunities to serve on overseas peace support missions. The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan, which...

Written Answers — Army Medical Corps: Army Medical Corps (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There is a shortage of medical officers (Doctors) in the Medical Corps. The establishment for Medical Officers is 47 and the current strength if 23, of whom 12 are functioning in front line clinical duties in Ireland amongst Brigades and formations. The services of civilian medical practitioners are regularly engaged to ensure that the primary health care requirements arising in barracks...

Written Answers — Military Discipline: Military Discipline (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Military law, including military discipline, is prescribed in the Defence Act, 1954 and in Defence Force Regulations made pursuant to various provisions of the Defence Act. PDFORRA has submitted a claim under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the Permanent Defence Force in relation to alleged disadvantage and discrimination against elected representatives. By agreement with the...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Surveys were conducted by the Defence Forces in the Balkans in 2001. These surveys demonstrated that there was no increase in the background radiation levels in the work environment of the Defence Forces in the Balkans. A policy of conducting biochemical, haematological and urinalysis tests as part of the in-theatre pre-repatriation medical examination of troops serving in the Balkans and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On the 19th September 2005, Ms Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn SC was appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Government, as the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. The function of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is to act as the ultimate point of appeal for,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The overall objective of the White Paper is to ensure that the country has the Defence Forces it needs to meet the roles laid down by Government and that the Defence Forces continues to be an organisation in which people are proud to serve. To achieve this the White Paper set out the following broad goals:- to provide a light infantry based force with an appropriate level of all-arms...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Procurement: Defence Forces Procurement (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that all food supplies for the Defence Forces are procured centrally by the Food Procurement Section of the Defence Forces, who place contracts with suppliers in ten separate food categories e.g. Dairy Produce, Poultry Produce, Pack Rations. Tender competitions are run for all such contracts in accordance with National and EU regulations. Contractors submit tenders to supply...

Written Answers — Employment Equality: Employment Equality (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy's question notes, a number of statements were made in the course of a recent hearing in the High Court of a personal injuries claim against the State for damages, arising from alleged sexual assaults allegedly committed by a former NCO against the Plaintiff in those particular proceedings. The alleged assaults were claimed to have taken place in a time frame spanning the period...

Written Answers — Army Security Escorts: Army Security Escorts (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy may be aware, I had a number of discussions with the Irish Bankers Federation (IBF) in relation to this matter last year, with a view to increasing the level of contribution by the Banks in respect of the costs incurred by the Department in the provision of Cash Escorts. Following detailed and intensive discussions between officials of the IBF, the member Banks and the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 71 together. Ireland does not contribute to the NATO Response Force and, as such, will not be participating in the related field exercises. Ireland does not participate in field exercises with NATO forces. However, as part of our participation in Partnership for Peace, on occasion, Ireland participates along with other partners in NATO organised...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare, and Clancy Barracks, Dublin. The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig was completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of...

Written Answers — Army Dismissal Case: Army Dismissal Case (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The book to which the Deputy refers was launched by the author last May. My Department has examined the contents of the publication. The book does not present any new material of significance to the history of the case. The basic premise of the book was previously presented in a newspaper article written in summer 2002 by the author of the book. The individual concerned was retired by the...

Written Answers — Army Bomb Disposal Unit: Army Bomb Disposal Unit (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces nationally are divided into four main Brigades, namely 1 Southern Brigade, 2 Eastern Brigade, the 4 Western Brigade and the Defence Forces Training Centre. This does not equate to the provincial divisions within the country. The following is a list of the callouts in the various Brigades in 2005 and 2006 to date. Number of Callouts 2005 Number of Hoax Calls 2005 1...

Written Answers — Drug Testing: Drug Testing (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Drug abuse has long been recognised as a serious and escalating problem in our society and while there have been relatively few instances of drug related problems within the Defence Forces, it is recognised that the Defence Forces, as a component of the wider community, mirror the community at large. The implications of drug abuse in an organisation where personnel have access to firearms...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Budget: Defence Forces Budget (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Expenditure under the Defence and Army Pensions Votes has increased from €646 million in 1997 to an estimated outturn of €958 million in 2006. This represents an increase in defence spending of some 48% over that period. The level of expenditure on defence in any particular country is influenced by a variety of factors, including that country's political and security environment, its...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years and I will continue the good work in that regard. 2007 will see the delivery of two more AW139 helicopters for the Air Corps and 15 Mowag armoured personnel carriers for the Army. It is not possible, at this stage, to...