Results 2,221-2,240 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The number of Parliamentary Questions replied to by my Department in 2006 was 977. It is not possible to quantify the costs of answering these PQs.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (1 Feb 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 10,479. A detailed breakdown of the numbers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank and gender are in the form of a Tabular Statement attached. The Tabular Statement also provides the comparable details for the Army...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. I am aware that significant investment has taken place in recent years and I will continue the good work in that regard. The unprecedented level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service was made possible by the Government's decision that pay savings...

Written Answers — : (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together. 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. In addition, the...

Written Answers — Military Installations: Military Installations (1 Feb 2007)

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 Islandbridge, Dublin. The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig was completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of the...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In 2006 I signed into effect two new Defence Force Regulations together with amendments to various existing regulations all of which are listed in Appendix 1. Regulations made pursuant to sections 17, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 40, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 56, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 72, 73, 75, 80, 81, 82, 84, 86, 87, 88, 90, 92, 93, 94, 97, 98, 100, 102, 103, 114,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 Feb 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. The arrangements regarding the assignment of staff who wish to remain in Dublin are decided, in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Discharge: Defence Forces Discharge (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I can only comment in very general terms about the circumstances described by the Deputy. The Defence Forces look at any application made for discharge, on compassionate grounds, in a fair, caring and sympathetic manner on a case by case basis, while having due regard to any other relevant issues arising in the context of the application. The facilities of the Personnel Support Services...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised that an Administrative Instruction providing for promotion from the rank of Captain (Army Reserve)/Lieutenant (Naval Service Reserve) to Commandant (Army Reserve)/Lieutenant Commander (Naval Service Reserve) is expected to be approved in the immediate future. This Administrative Instruction incorporates best contemporary practice and procedures and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There have been five (5) officers promoted to fill vacancies in the Reserve Defence Force in the period from 1 October, 2005 to date. The promotions, by rank and formation, are outlined in the following tabular statement.

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I made no official journeys by commercial airline in 2006. With regard to distance travelled by members of the Government on Air Corps aircraft in 2006, I am advised that the Air Corps does not use this method to calculate aircraft utilisation. Instead, aircraft usage is recorded as hours flown. In order to calculate an estimate of air miles flown from hours flown, it is necessary to multiply...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: No contracts were awarded to Indecon, Economic Consultants, by my Department since 2000.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces are one of the fundamental pillars of a democratic society. Every member of our Defence Forces has volunteered to serve the State. They undertake to obey all lawful orders issued to them and to submit to the unique code of discipline, an essential part of military life. From time to time they are asked to undertake dangerous and difficult missions on our behalf, both in...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In some places.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Senators for their contributions to this interesting discussion. Some of the points raised have already occurred to me, although I confess I had not considered others. Senator Brian Hayes asked whether I was satisfied that all the provisions of the Bill were constitutional. Before we publish legislation, the Attorney General examines it for constitutionality and we do not pursue any...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It does not come into it. Senator Dardis asked whether we would be able to commit to the rapid reaction force. I have just concluded discussions on a memorandum of understanding with the Nordic Battle Group. We will be making a very significant contribution to that battle group, which will be on standby from 1 January 2008. Senators Dardis and Maurice Hayes also asked about an Irish...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I thank all the Senators for their interesting contributions and I look forward to a stimulating debate on Committee Stage.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Defence Force Regulations S.7 and its enabling legislation the Defence Amendment Act, 1990 provide for representative structures for members of the Defence Forces including the Army and Naval Reserves. The question of a Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the ranks represented by the Reserve Defence Representative Association (RDFRA) has been raised by representatives of the association...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (7 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: No funds were made available to my Department under the previous or new National Development Plan.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The proposed amendments seek to change the text of the Bill to reflect that communications made with the Director of Military Prosecutions or a member of his staff on behalf of another person do not come within the scope of the offence of improper communication with the director. The Bill already provides that communications with the Director of Military Prosecutions made by legal and...