Results 3,281-3,300 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The age profile of the Permanent Defence Force is presented in a tabular statement which follows. There are no plans at present to extend the retirement age of officers or other personnel in the Defence Forces. The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Force review implementation plan both identified the requirement to address the high age profile of the Defence Forces. The...

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It might not be any harm if Deputy Deenihan's suggestion were taken on board and we were all made to retire at 55. Deputy Deenihan mentioned there were more people in receipt of Army pensions than there are serving Army personnel. I do not know whether that is the case, although the numbers are close. I will find out for the Deputy. Even if it was the case, however, it would not worry me...

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The average age of officers is 36.67, that of NCOs is 41, and that of privates is 32.49, which seems to be just about right. As I have already indicated to the House, a specific proposal has been made and is currently being discussed. We will see what comes of that.

Defence Forces Civilianisation. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 covers the potential benefits of civilianisation and contracting out of certain military posts. It recognises that civilianisation could "release personnel for operational duties for which they are specifically trained". It could release them "from essentially administrative and other tasks which can more appropriately be undertaken by civilians". It further...

Defence Forces Civilianisation. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Regarding the Deputy's comments on the speed at which the process is being driven, we do not want to impose it on anyone and are taking a partnership approach based on agreement. My answer may have been misleading in that I mentioned four posts in the IT area and three in the archives area, but the catering business has also been contracted out, which has released 100 soldiers for...

Defence Forces Civilianisation. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Deenihan. As he will be aware, because the incentives did not succeed in increasing the complement of doctors and dentists to the level needed by the Army, rather than avail of the services of the private sector we will completely organise the Army medical corps. We have brought in consultants to advise us in this regard. Regarding Deputy Wall's question, to the best of...

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A public information and awareness campaign on emergency planning was launched in April. The campaign was implemented following proposals that I brought to Government in late 2006 and January this year. My desire to implement a public information and awareness campaign on emergency planning stemmed from research that I had commissioned. The research clearly showed that there was a desire...

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I will answer the final question first. Anecdotal evidence suggests the campaign was a success, although we intend to conduct some relatively low cost market research later this year to determine what the impact the handbook has had. It should not go out of date soon because the information it contains is general. Any changes would be a matter for the lead Department and flagged on the...

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Is the Deputy talking about the emergency planning office?

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: That is still based in my Department. It has not yet moved permanently to Kildare Street.

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The emergency centre in Kildare Street is all geared up to be used in the event of an emergency. It is also being used by the various Departments on a fairly continual basis for table-top exercises. I do not know whether people still have the booklet, but I do know that the whole thing is on the Internet. I do not know about Kerry, but most people in Limerick and Wexford have access to the...

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: People have been made aware that the Government has a plan in place to deal with a range of emergencies. If one clicks onto the website, one will see telephone numbers one can ring if one needs further information.

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Is the Deputy asking about the national emergency committee?

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am chairman of the emergency planning task force, which meets every four or five weeks. We have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. I do not know how often the national security committee meets. I am not a member of that august body.

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Deputy for his nomination.

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I gave an instruction to one of my officials to speak to the Ceann Comhairle. I am disappointed that nobody has got back to me about it yet.

National Emergency Plan. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I will find out.

Army Equitation School. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The day-to-day administration of recruitment in the Defence Forces is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. I am informed by the military authorities that the Army equitation school has an establishment strength of 34, all ranks. Vacancies exist for two non-commissioned officers and ten privates, or grooms. As no serving personnel are available to fill these...

Army Equitation School. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I have no problem with that. I am sure the Department does not have a problem with it. I wish to focus on one of the reasons we have been unable to recruit new staff for the Army equitation school. It would be ideal if we could recruit people to work in the school from within the people we have listed at the moment. As the work in question involves early starts and late finishes, there...

Army Equitation School. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Some people who apply to work as grooms choose not to follow up on those applications. The normal intake procedures, which include medical screening, physical training tests and security clearance, can take a great deal of time. I will state honestly that we have had some difficulty with security clearance. By the time successful candidates are called, they may have secured alternative...