Results 2,821-2,840 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It is proposed to re-inaugurate the Oireachtas Consultation Group shortly. I will be writing to Party Leaders inviting them to nominate representatives to the Group. I hope to arrange a meeting of the new group towards the end of January 2008.

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I have a Ministerial Office in Leinster House, as well as an office at the Department of Defence Headquarters at Parkgate, Infirmary Road. As Minister for Defence, I also attend at the various Defence locations around the country on a regular basis. Whilst I do not keep a log of attendance at my various Offices, I meet with my officials and military personnel on a regular basis in all of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, General Service Enlistment, Apprenticeship Competition or Direct Entry Competitions which are held to fill vacancies in specialist appointments. The number of applications received for the Cadetship Competition in 2006 and 2007 was 1,085 and 1,231 respectively. 55 Cadets were enlisted in 2006 and 48 were...

Written Answers — Court Proceedings: Court Proceedings (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 99 together. As this matter is still within the Judicial process the Deputy will appreciate that it would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on the matter.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is divided into the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve. The First Line Reserve is comprised of former members of the Permanent Defence Force and there is no set establishment. The Army Reserve is organised along similar lines to the PDF, in three brigades and a Reserve Defence Force Training Authority. There is also a dedicated...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I can report that progress has been made in addressing skill shortages in the Naval Service. Eleven (11) Junior Operations Branch Officers have recently qualified and there are a further twenty six (26) junior officers and cadets in training. There are currently 30 General Service Recruits in training and another class is being enlisted on the 18 December. Progress has also been made to...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel is the only military aerodrome in the State. It provides facilities for military aircraft training and operations. The latter include Fishery Protection Patrols, Ministerial Air Transport, Garda Air Support, Air Ambulance Missions etc. Following a review of the Department's Safety Policy regarding Casement Aerodrome in 1999 a revised policy statement was...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: To date ninety three (93) of the houses in the estate in question have been sold and it is hoped to dispose of the remaining seven (7) houses at the estate as soon as possible. The roads, footpaths, street lighting and other services at the estate will have to be brought up to the required standard before they will be taken in charge by Kildare County Council. In this regard, the condition...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There have been no recorded incidents of injuries sustained by Defence Forces personnel due to friendly fire in the period from 1st January 2000 to today's date, 12th December 2007.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: 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 intended to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 169, 170 and 175 together. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces has been and continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence and significant investment has taken place in recent years in this regard. The net result is that Defence Forces personnel serving both at home and on overseas missions are equipped with the most...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Deployment: Defence Forces Deployment (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 173 together. The Naval Service, which is based on Haulbowline Island, is the State's principal seagoing agency with a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. It is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. Defence roles include defending territorial seas, deterring intrusive or aggressive acts,...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Force Protection is always a key consideration in relation to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. A threat assessment is conducted prior to each deployment, and the threat to Irish troops is evaluated on an on-going basis for the duration of the mission. Irish troops are armed and equipped as necessary to meet the force protection requirements. Mowag APCs are deployed...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In June 2004 the European Council approved the European Union's decision-making and planning ambitions for its rapid response operations. Rapid response is defined as "the ability to take the decision to launch an operation within 5 days of the approval of the crisis-management concept (CMC)", especially as regards battlegroup operations. In the Headline Goal 2010, the EU set itself the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Dec 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 my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of posts to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. No staff have yet transferred to that location. The Civil Defence Board, which is a State Authority...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has not paid in advance for works or services that will not be commenced before the end of 2007.

Written Answers — Naval Service: Naval Service (18 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Every boarding of a vessel at sea carries inherent dangers. Due to the nature of the operating environment and the individuality of vessels operating off our shores, each boarding operation is unique. A professional judgment is made in every instance by the Officer in Charge having regard to all factors including weather and sea conditions. Of paramount importance to the conduct of all...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The answer to the Deputy's question is almost identical to the reply I gave to the similar question he tabled on Thursday December 13th 2007. Neither my Department nor its agencies has paid in advance for works or services that will not be completed before the end of the 2007 financial year. There is an on-going capital building programme in my Department designed to modernise the training,...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (18 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Unless appropriately qualified in tree surgery the Department of Defence is not in a position to permit persons to carry out the removal of trees on Departmental property for health and safety reasons.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The original Coiste an Asgard was first formed in 1968 and is now a company limited by guarantee set up under the Companies Acts in February 1987. The Minister for Defence is, ex-officio, the chairman of the board of directors and he may appoint up to 14 other directors. No fees are payable to the directors but they may be paid travel and subsistence expenses at civil service rates. The...