Results 281-300 of 12,629 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland's commitment to the headline goal consists of an offer of up to 850 members of the Defence Forces from within our existing commitment of 850 personnel to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS. I stress that the commitment to the headline goal should not be interpreted as an additional commitment of the Defence Forces to overseas operations. Any new commitments to the...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Government has taken no decision to date on participation or non-participation in the battle group concept to which the Deputy referred. I do not accept there is a widespread conspiracy to deprive the UN of sufficient troops for peacekeeping to allow the EU to develop its capacity. It came to world attention in the early 1990s, especially in the situation in the Balkans, that people can...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Yes.

Search and Rescue Service. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 76 together. The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps has been providing search and rescue services off the north-west coast but withdrew yesterday following a hand-over of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which currently...

Search and Rescue Service. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy McGinley that the Air Corps has done a magnificent job over the past 43 years. I join with him in expressing good wishes for the Air Corps, as well as recognising its service over the years. It is appropriate to salute Air Corps personnel, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice in performing essential rescue missions. I will refer to those later if I get an...

Bullying in the Workplace. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy's question refers to the provision of 200 designated contact persons within the Defence Forces as an integral part of the new, revised military grievance procedures. A need was identified for the putting in place of contact persons within the Defence Forces organisation in line with recognised best practice. The aim of the designated contact persons is to provide a voluntary...

Bullying in the Workplace. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Certainly bullying appeared to be endemic in the military when the Doyle report was commissioned in 2002, which is more than two years ago. There is evidence that the situation has improved substantially since then. As I said earlier, there is still much to be done but I believe the Defence Forces ombudsman, the new training schemes, new integrated personnel management system and the...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland is currently contributing approximately 740 Defence Forces personnel to 21 different missions throughout the world. The main commitments are to the NATO-led international security presence in Kosovo, with 213 personnel, and to the United Nations Mission in Liberia, with 435 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations, the Organisation for...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Discussions have taken place with regard to the proposed takeover by the EU, as mandated by the UN, of the NATO led operation in Bosnia. I understand this will take place in December. Ireland already has 12 people working on that mission and we have agreed in principle to provide 30 and 50 personnel to the force. Some 7,000 are already participating in this operation and they will be replaced...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I believe Deputy McGinley is referring to the mission whereby UN sanction was vetoed by China. In effect, members of the Security Council have a veto on such operations. It is our intention that the triple-lock arrangement will continue. Any peacekeeping operations or foreign engagements involving Irish troops will require a decision by the Government, ratification by the Dáil and sanction...

Search and Rescue Service. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: As I outlined in my reply to Deputy McGinley, the Air Corps has withdrawn from the provision of search and rescue in the north west with effect from yesterday. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, which has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue area has contracted with a private operator,...

Search and Rescue Service. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I am not aware of any impasse between the Department of Defence and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Perhaps it existed before I came to this office. The short answer to the Deputy's question is that the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources will have responsibility for funding this company. It will pay the company for the search and rescue...

Search and Rescue Service. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The short answer is that we were in a position to help in the situation.

Search and Rescue Service. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Ironically, the helicopter available for use by the Air Corps for search and rescue missions in the north west is the same one that will be used by the new company. The Air Corps leased the helicopter from that company, which has taken it back. The helicopter will be based at the same location and it would be an unnecessary duplication of service to base another Air Corps helicopter there. I...

Search and Rescue Service. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I do not accept the contract was terminated based on a dubious premise. The difficulties with the winch crew resulted in a major outbreak of the Army version of "blue flu" when many people went sick simultaneously. People are entitled to do that, but the Deputy referred to a temporary industrial relations difficulty. Temporary difficulties can recur and it is impossible to guarantee they will...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 10 together. A significant achievement of the Irish Presidency in the development of the European Security and Defence Policy was the agreement of a new headline goal with a horizon of 2010, as approved by the European Council in June 2004. Reflecting the European security strategy, which was presented to the European Council in December 2003 by the...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I am considering it, but have not yet made a decision.

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Deputy Gormley for his kind words of congratulation that I deeply appreciate. My understanding is that there is no obligation on Ireland to participate in this though I will double check for the Deputy. On costs, we operate on the principle that they lie where they fall. If we contribute to a particular mission, we bear the cost. In future, there could be a question of common costs...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I do not agree. The issue here is the supply of personnel for peacekeeping missions whether the request is made by the United Nations directly or indirectly through the European Union. I do not see what is the difference in substance.

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I do not see European Governments involving themselves in the level of expenditure on weapons and military capability that would make them an effective counterweight to the United States of America in our lifetime. On pre-emptive action, Deputy Gormley may or may not be aware that a capability conference will take place in Brussels in November which I hope to attend on behalf of the...