Results 2,581-2,600 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Corps: Defence Forces Medical Corps (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The military medical services and their facilities exist primarily to maintain the health of the Defence Forces and to support them in operational and overseas activities. The focus of the military medical service is on primary care, acute trauma management, preventative medical programmes and field medical training. The development of the capacity of the Medical Corps forms part of the...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and equal treatment for men and women in the Defence Forces (Army, Air Corps, Naval Service) 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Investigations: Defence Forces Investigations (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: An extensive investigation is being carried out by the Defence Forces into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The investigation report is expected to be completed shortly. The issue of safety belts on troop carrying vehicles will be considered on the basis of the final outcome of the report.

Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Taoiseach announced in the context of the 90th Anniversary celebrations of 1916 that the Government had decided to make the Military Pension Archive available to historians and to the public. It is the intention of the Government that the records will be made available in good time for the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising in 2016. An Interdepartmental Working Group chaired by the...

Written Answers — Compensation Claims: Compensation Claims (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Details of the amount paid by my Department in settlement of non-hearing loss compensation claims and associated legal costs over the period in question are shown in the following Tabular Statement. The figures in the Tabular Statement represent the amounts paid in settlement of actions against the Minister for Defence. They include payments to serving and non-serving members of the...

Written Answers — Civilianisation Programme: Civilianisation Programme (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Agreed Programme for Government (June 2007) contains a commitment to fast track the civilianisation of all outstanding agreed posts in the Defence Forces. This issue is also included in the Modernisation Agenda agreed with the Defence Forces Representative Associations in the context of Towards 2016. The matter will be progressed by my department and the military authorities accordingly.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Review: Defence Forces Review (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 and the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan (2002) set out the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) together with an Implementation Plan extending to 2009. The Implementation Plan is being rolled-out on a phased basis up to 2009. There has been significant progress to date in implementing the detailed recommendations of the Plan e.g. a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The use of military firing ranges by An Garda Síochána is subject to the operation/training requirements of the Defence Forces. That said, the Defence Forces have facilitated An Garda Síochána down the years, providing them with significant access to military firing ranges nationwide on an ongoing basis. These arrangements do not encompass the use of indoor firing ranges as the type of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland is already committed to participate in the Nordic Battlegroup which will be on standby from the 1st January — 30th June 2008. On the 26th April 2007, I issued a letter of Accession to all participating members of the Battlegroup to join the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Nordic Battlegroup Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is an agreement between the participants comprising...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 111, inclusive, together. 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, Naas, Castleblayney, Kildare, and Islandbridge, Dublin. The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In the latter part of 2006, 8000 units of body armour for the individual soldier on operational duties were delivered. The new body armour provides significantly greater protection, comfort and coverage than the old model as well as a doubling of the range of sizes available. The total value of the contract was in the region of €8m. The body armour is available for distribution throughout...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The safety of Irish personnel serving overseas is always of paramount concern to me. While no absolute guarantees can be given with regard to the safety of troops serving in missions, it is my policy and practice to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately trained and equipped to carry out their mission. All possible precautions are taken to ensure the safety of our troops. In...

Written Answers — Naval Service: Naval Service (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: All Naval Service officers are assigned to appointments in the Defence Forces Establishment as shown in the Defence Force Gazette and Naval List and Directory. There are no officers assigned to a ship that does not exist or is no longer in service.

Order of Business (9 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy is a funny man. Failure has gone to his head.

Proposed EU Military Operation: Motion (9 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the dispatch of Major General Pat Nash to the position of Operations Commander for the proposed EU military operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic with up to four support staff pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960, for service with the EU mission in support of MINURCAT, established on 25 September,...

Proposed EU Military Operation: Motion (9 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: We will not hold that against him.

Proposed EU Military Operation: Motion (9 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I thank all Members of the House for taking this motion so expeditiously, for their contributions and for recognising the importance of Ireland's and the Defence Forces' contributions to international peace and security. As I outlined in my initial presentation, this is an extremely important mission for the EU and Ireland. The proposed EU operation will be undertaken under UN authorisation...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (9 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The property in question is currently the subject of some consideration in my Department. However, at this time, no final decision has been made concerning its future use.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (9 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Defence holds only a leasehold interest in the property in question, which is due to expire in April 2028. The future of the property will be decided following clarification of certain aspects in relation to title, which are presently the subject of correspondence with the Chief State Solicitors Office.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Kildare County Council has approved the sale of a site at Station Road in Newbridge to the Office of Public Works for the construction of the Department's new headquarters. A preferred tenderer for the design and construction of the building has been chosen and the planning process is under way with a decision by OPW expected shortly. Depending on planning and the commencement of building...