Results 2,121-2,140 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: All staff in the Department of Defence and its Agencies earn in excess of the current national minimum wage, and there are no staff earning just one euro above the current national minimum wage. All other details requested by the Deputy are in the table below: The number of staff who are employed by contractors to his Department currently earning the national minimum wage 5 The number...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In February 2006 the Chief of Staff appointed Col. Tom Behan to examine all aspects of the Niemba ambush. I accepted the findings of his Report and addressed the matter during Priority Questions on 16 November 2006. I would like to reiterate my congratulations to Col. Behan for the time and effort he has expended in researching this sensitive and harrowing episode in Irish Military History....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The details requested by the Deputy are as follows: Grade Salary Scale Special Advisor €80,408–€99,457 Personal Assistant €43,445–€55,147 Personal Secretary €21,632–€41,736 Executive Officer €30,027–€47,641 Staff Officer €32,606–€43,536 Clerical Officer €21,625–€35,071 Clerical Officer €22,633–€35,830 Clerical Officer × 2 €22,766–€36,913

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The details regarding personnel in the Department of Defence Press Office are as follows: Grade Salary Scale Press Advisor €80,408–€99,457 Press Officer — Assistant Principal €61,755–€77,003 Executive Officer €28,523–€47,039 In addition to dealing with media related matters on behalf of the Minister and the Department, the Press Office is also responsible for dealing...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised that no readily available or centralised data set of information exists on the number of personnel who were called before a Medical Board prior to 1 April 2006. I do not believe that the costs or inconvenience of collating this material for a full five-year period would be merited or justifiable. However, I can provide details of the total numbers of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: On 20 December, 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for six months to assist the Interim Afghanistan Authority in the maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding areas. The authorisation of ISAF has been extended by the UN Security Council since then. NATO assumed the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 December 2006, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, as advised by the military authorities was 10,477. A detailed breakdown of the numbers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank and gender are in the form of the following Tabular Statement. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation, announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement on 3 December 2003, provides for the transfer of all of my Department's Dublin based civil service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. A total of 338 personnel, of which 60 are from within the Department, have opted to move to...

Written Answers — Comhfhreagras Rannach: Comhfhreagras Rannach (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Ní choimeádtar staidreamh maidir leis an achair a thógann sé freagra a thabhairt ar chomhfhreagras, mar ní bheadh sé praiticiúil é sin a dhéanamh. Tá polasaí na Roinne seo maidir le freagra a thabhairt ar chomhfhreagras leagtha amach in ár Seirbhís do Chustaiméirí: Plean Gníomhartha 2004-2007 agus in ár gCairt do Chustaiméirí chomh maith. Déanann an Roinn seo, 'admháil...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Periodic interest by the private sector has been expressed during the past decade or so in relation to the use of Casement Aerodrome for Civil Aviation purposes. The establishment of facilities for civil aviation purposes is, however, primarily a matter for the Minister for Transport. Under the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993, aerodromes under my authority are precluded from regulation...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: An offer from Cork City Council has recently been accepted by my Department in respect of lands at the Camp Field, Collins Barracks, Cork. The matter has been referred to the Chief State Solicitor's Office to complete the necessary legal formalities. Pending completion of a Contract of Sale, however, it would not be appropriate to disclose the purchase price.

Written Answers — EU Council Meetings: EU Council Meetings (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: A meeting of EU Defence Ministers in GAERC formation took place in Brussels on 13 November, 2006. In tandem with the Defence Minister's meeting, there was a Ministerial level meeting of the EDA Steering Board. The meeting began with a discussion on the development of Military Capabilities. The Director General of the EU Military Staff (DGEUMS) updated Ministers on the process towards the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There are 16 staff working in the Department who have received training in project management. The training received by these staff was provided by bodies such as the Institute of Public Administration and the Civil Service Training and Development Centre, who deliver training programmes that are recognised across the public sector. In 12 cases the training programmes related exclusively to...

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces has a radar capability used for national security and aid to the civil power operations. The main radar capability of the Defence Forces is the Flycatcher radar system. This equipment was procured in 2002 from the Dutch armed forces. It is used to carry out the target acquisition and fire control of the Bofors EL70 40 mm air defence guns. Each radar unit is capable of...

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Like all small countries and many large ones, we have limited air defence capability. It has been the experience of large military powers, such as the United States which spends billions of dollars on air space protection systems, that these systems do not give an absolute guarantee of security. Israel is also incurring huge expenditure on air defence but, as was shown during the recent...

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility in this matter is with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces merely act as a backup. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has not said such a system is needed to provide proper backup for its work. If such a suggestion were made I would examine it in my Department.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together. UNIFIL was originally established on 19 March 1978 under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, following the invasion of Lebanon by Israel. Its mandate was "to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, to restore international peace and security and to assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In respect of the numbers, I cannot recall any specific statement to the effect we planned to send 200 troops. I believe the phrase used was "up to 200".

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It was a maximum of 200 troops. As the Deputy is aware, this is a joint operation with the Finns. We took advice from the Finnish armed forces as to the kind of detail they required of us. The number arrived at comes to 157 troops, in addition to the five personnel who were already there and the Finns regard this to be quite sufficient. As for the task itself, in essence the Finnish...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: As for the question on rations, my information is that for the first few days after the contingent's arrival, essentially they consisted of cold food or prepacked rations. In addition however, I am informed that certain foods were purchased locally and the rations were supplemented by some foodstuffs imported from Ireland. I can provide the Deputy with more details in this regard. After...