Results 2,781-2,800 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea
- Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: The Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and Defence Force Regulations section 6 provide for representative structures for members of the Defence Forces. In accordance with the regulations, the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, represents officers of the Permanent Defence Force in respect of the matters specified in the third schedule to the regulations. The ranks involved...
- Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I do not doubt what the Deputy says and if the people involved approach me I will give this matter consideration. The second last report of the higher review body caused distress amongst the general staff and they made their views known forcibly to the body. The review body responded by saying it did not want to be perceived as undervaluing the contribution made by senior Army officers. The...
- Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: If the association wishes to have its representation changed it can approach me and I will make the appropriate inquiries. Regarding Deputy Deenihan's comments on pay rates, it is certain that, like all bodies covered by the higher review group, brigadier generals will be paid immediately and will not see their pay increases deferred. I find the attitude of some Members of this House to...
- Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I do not deny it.
- Emergency Planning. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: As chairman of the Government task force on emergency planning, I have emphasised the importance of raising public awareness of this issue and the work that is being undertaken by Government Departments and public authorities. In October last year the Government approved my proposals to implement a public information and awareness campaign on emergency planning and I am pleased to say that...
- Emergency Planning. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: He is not seeking a barracking.
- Emergency Planning. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I brought this proposal to Government last October and we did some research that came to some startling conclusions. The vast majority of people think we are unprepared for emergencies and an even greater percentage of people would not know what to do in the event of an emergency. A booklet will be accompanied by an extensive advertising campaign on radio and in newspapers. There will not...
- Emergency Planning. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: Tallaght has been mentioned twice in 30 seconds and that must be a record. I have taken account of the possible panic the Deputy mentioned. This operation has been done in other countries, such as the UK and Australia, and one must be careful with the terminology used and how information to be given is drafted. The objective is to reassure the public rather than cause panic and I hope we...
- Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 63, 71, 74, 76, 85, 88, 90, 92, 93, 102 and 168 together. Currently, a total of 414 Defence Forces personnel are serving overseas, full details of which are listed in the accompanying statement which will be available to the House. Ireland has offered, through the United Nations standby arrangements system, to provide up to 850 military personnel,...
- Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I am pleased to assure Deputy Durkan on those points. I agree that adequate equipment is necessary. As the Deputy observed, the vastness of the area makes air transport necessary, as well as effective communications. Troops can be easily and quickly isolated in a place of this magnitude. It is a hostile environment. I assure the House that the force commander will not deploy unless he is...
- Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I assure Deputy Collins that military personnel have travelled to Chad on reconnaissance work. They have studied the environment to ascertain what is required in terms of equipment, transport and communications. These are people of the highest expertise who have organised previous foreign missions. They know what is required and will ensure it is supplied. One cannot offer absolute...
- Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: We got â¬37 million extra for the Chad mission and supplied â¬20 million from within our own resources. If there was no question of us going to Chad we would undoubtedly have found other ways to spend that â¬20 million. Perhaps we would have got â¬20 million less from the Department of Finance. I reassure the Deputy that the amount of money we will spend in upgrading equipment this...
- Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I will answer the specific points raised by Deputy Deenihan in the first instance. I assure the Deputy that although Lieutenant General Nash's formal retirement date is in May, he is to be appointed for the duration of Ireland's participation in the mission. The initial deployment is for a year but it may be extended. That will be a decision for Government when we come to the end of that...
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 81 together. On 7 November 2007, I visited Sweden to attend the Final Exercise (FINEX), carried out by the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG). The exercise, which commenced on 21 October 2007 continued until 12 November 2007. The total number of Irish Defence Force personnel who participated in the exercise was 93 and included the Improvised Explosive Device...
- Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: The annual leave entitlements for members of the Defence Forces are as follows: a.Senior Officers 43 days b.Junior Officers 31 days c.Enlisted Personnel 29 days. These annual leave entitlements are reduced by a set amount while the member of the Defence Forces is on an overseas tour of duty. The reduction is 3.5 days per month for senior officers, 2.5 days per month for junior officers and 1...
- Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 46.
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: A claim to increase the mandatory retirement age to 60 years for officers serving in ranks up to and including Lieutenant Colonel was received from the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The claim has been the subject of correspondence between the Department and the Representative...
- Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I would like to assure the House that any allegations of victimisation in the Defence Forces are treated with the utmost seriousness and there are extensive and robust complaints and grievance procedure processes in place to protect the rights of all Defence Forces personnel, including PDFORRA officials. In addition, on interpersonal relationships, the Defence Forces and the Department have...
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 80 together. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force as the strength sufficient to meet all foreseeable military requirements for the period comprehended by the White Paper (i.e. up to 2010). This remains the position. It is my intention to maintain the established Government...
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Dec 2007)
Willie O'Dea: Following Government approval to go to tender, notice of a competition for the purchase of replacement vessels for the Naval Service was sent to the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 August 2007. The competition for the purchase of two Offshore Patrol Vessels, with an option on a third and one Extended Patrol Vessel, with an option on a second, uses a Restricted Procurement...