Results 2,081-2,100 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established on 19 September, 2003, under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509. The resolution authorised the deployment, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, for a period of twelve months, of up to 15,000 military personnel, to include up to 250 military observers, 875 civilian police officers and a civilian component. UNMIL has a...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning continues to meet on a regular basis. The next meeting will be the 50th Task Force meeting since it was established in 2001. The Task Force promotes coordination of emergency planning across departments. As chairman of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I have continually stressed the importance that I attach to departments and key...

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

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a new Reserve Defence Force. The new Reserve 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 was formally launched in July 2004, is progressing on schedule and...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces, in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service and including the Reserve Defence Force, and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. In effect this means that women are eligible on the same basis as men for participation in operational and ceremonial...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The statutory processes involved in the appointment of chairs and members of non-Departmental public bodies under the remit of my Department and their legislative origin are as follows: Civil Defence Board. The members of the Civil Defence Board were appointed with effect from 5 June 2005. Under Section 7 of the Civil Defence Act 2002, the terms of office of a member of the Board shall not...

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

Willie O'Dea: The older obsolete aircraft, six Marchetti aircraft, four Dauphin helicopters and one Gazelle helicopter have been disposed of or are in the process of being disposed of by tender competitions. The obsolete aircraft have been replaced by the arrival of eight new Pilatus aircraft and two EC 135 helicopters and the planned arrival of two AW 139 helicopters in November 2006 and two in 2007.

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 228 and 230 together. The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 October 2006, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, as advised by the military authorities was 10,357. A detailed breakdown of the numbers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank and gender are set out in the following Tabular Statement. The White Paper on...

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

Willie O'Dea: The ongoing equipment modernization programme ensures that the Defence Forces are fully equipped with the most modern of equipment for their day to day roles at home and on overseas missions. The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is in keeping with the most modern standards. Continual investment in the Defence Forces will ensure that this remains to be the case.

Written Answers — : (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces have available to them equipment for monitoring and protecting their members in dealing with Nuclear, Biological or Chemical (NBC) threats should such arise. They hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment that meets their current requirements. This range includes approximately 9,500 NBC suits, of which 800 were delivered in January 2006. In addition, the Defence...

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

Willie O'Dea: The number of Army, Air Corps and Naval Service promotions approved or pending in 2006, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the form of a Tabular Statement which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. Officer Promotions Service Promotions Promotions Pending Army 129 5 Air Corps 23 Nil Naval Service 11 Nil Total 163 5 Enlisted Personnel Promotions Service...

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

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. There are 56 married quarters currently overheld. The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married personnel have an equal claim on such housing as other members of the community in the same income...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Corps: Defence Forces Medical Corps (21 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Sick leave in the Defence Forces was about 14 days per annum per person in the period from October 2005 to 30 September 2006. A SFA report earlier this year identified an average of 10 days absence per person per annum in larger firms. Military service, due to the robust nature of the physical training regime exposes personnel to a unique range of challenging environments with attendant...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy is aware I addressed this matter during Priority Questions on Thursday 16 November 2006 last. The Chief of Staff appointed Col. Tom Behan to examine all aspects of the Niemba ambush. Due to the breadth of this investigation, this process has taken some time. I have now had a chance to review this Report. I would like to congratulate Col. Behan for the time and effort he has...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: A total of 56 staff in my Department have volunteered to relocate to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. A further 38 staff from other Government Departments have joined my Department in order to transfer to the new location.

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (22 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 416, 423 and 424 together. The Department of Health and Children is responsible for policy formation in respect of pre-hospital emergency care, and the Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the provision of ambulance services throughout the State. A Service Level Agreement between my Department and the Department of Health and...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (22 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Clancy Barracks, Dublin was offered for sale by public tender on the 14 June 2001. Two bids were received, one of which was from Dublin City Council. Both tenders were considered too low to permit acceptance. Subsequently discussions took place with officials of the then Department of the Environment and Local Government and Dublin City Council. In the event, Dublin City Council did not...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Arising from a recommendation made in 1990 by the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces (the Gleeson Commission), Military Service Allowance (MSA) was made pensionable in the case of personnel retiring on or after 1 August 1990. As I have previously indicated to the House, this approach was fully consistent with settled public service pensions policy...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The contributory pension schemes for the widow(er)s and children of deceased military personnel are essentially the same as those applying elsewhere in the public service. Benefits under the schemes are additional to Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension under the Social Welfare Acts for which Defence Forces' personnel are insured by virtue of their PRSI contributions. Provision for the payment...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Under the existing Defence Forces Pensions Schemes, the minimum service required for an immediate pension in the case of NCOs and Privates is 21 years. The pension for 21 years' service is a flat rate amount which varies according to rank and which, together with the addition for military service allowance, currently ranges from €248.35 a week in the case of a Private to €370.30 a week...

Written Answers — Early Retirement Schemes: Early Retirement Schemes (22 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In common with other groups of public servants, there are certain circumstances whereby a civilian employee of my Department can retire in advance of the standard retirement age of 65. Firstly, an employee with an ongoing serious medical condition who has at least five years' pensionable service may apply to retire on grounds of ill-health. An application of this nature is subject to the...