Results 3,301-3,320 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Army Equitation School. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I think the cameramen were following Mr. Walsh. As I have said previously in the House, if the staff of the Army equitation school want to acquire an Irish-bred horse, and the horse passes the various veterinary examinations, etc., money will not be an obstacle in acquiring such a horse. I am sensitive to the Deputy's remarks about gold medal prospects, etc. As far as my Department is...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 81, 91, 96, 100, 104, 112, 116, 119 and 125 together. Ireland has deployed 411 personnel to the UN-mandated European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic. Some 371 personnel are deployed with the 97th Infantry Battalion in Goz Beida in the south east of Chad, 22 personnel are deployed in the force's headquarters in Chad and 18...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the Deputy's comment about the terrain in Chad. It is certainly the roughest I have ever seen. It was a wonderful operation to have transported all the equipment and the camp set up so quickly in such a remote part of the world. Regarding air support and logistical backup, the position is that we knew in advance what the operation commander's advice was and also that of our own...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The first question, on the extent of the brief of EUFOR in Chad, is important. Its brief is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons, of whom there are approximately 450,000. It also has a mandate to protect UN personnel, equipment and installations. It is not just a matter of protecting the lives of people in the camps but also of ensuring the flow of aid to them is not...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: On the problems with the terrain, one arose because Chad does not have any port, thus necessitating the shipment of much of the equipment to Douala in Cameroon, from where it had to be brought across country to Goz Beida at the other end of Chad. A certain amount of damage was done on this long journey which I understand was in excess of 2,000 km. The damage has, by and large, been...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As a result of an undertaking I gave in the House on the last occasion to Deputy Deenihan, I stated I would raise the matter with the Irish commanders in Chad. I have done so and asked them to try to accommodate the delivery of parcels at Christmas. As the Deputy knows, the supply flights are to resupply necessary equipment. However, I have told the commanders that if at all possible, they...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 98, 105, 123 and 133 together. I welcome the second annual report of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces covering the period January 2007 to December 2007. This is a further milestone in the development of the Office which became operational on the 1st December 2005 and which itself represented a significant development in the modernisation of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 95 together. An order for two (2) man portable mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems, commonly referred to as UAVs, was placed with Aeronautics Defence Systems Limited from Israel, in May 2007. The value of the order was in the region of €780,000, inclusive of VAT. The award of the contract followed on from a two stage tender competition in which eight...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The current projected figure for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force in 2008 is in the region of 690 general service recruits, comprising 540 Army recruits, 120 Naval Service recruits and 30 Air Corps recruits. In addition in the region of 30 apprentices will be recruited. The number of cadets to be recruited is currently under consideration and is expected to be in the region of 45....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a publicity and awareness campaign to promote recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces is being prepared. The campaign is likely to include advertising in print, broadcast media and via the Internet. A Request for Tender issued in March 2008. A preferred tenderer has been identified and the terms of contract are currently being...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Responsibility for the approval of overflights and landings by foreign military aircraft lies with my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In relation to civil aircraft the responsibility lies with my colleague the Minister for Transport. I am advised that 38 foreign military planes have landed at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel to date in 2008. The purposes of these visits involved...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A number of ceremonies were held last Thursday, 26th June, in barracks across the country and at overseas missions commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ireland's involvement in peacekeeping operations. I attended the ceremony held in McKee barracks in Dublin which featured a military parade consisting of members of the Army, the Air Corps, the Naval Service, the Organisation of National...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Since January 2008, the number of Defence Forces personnel who have operated abroad, on training exercises and courses and operational duties is set out as follows: Desktop Training Exercises: 45; Training Courses:176; Operational Duties: 1,123 tours of operational duty have been initiated since January 2008. Of these, 311 tours have been completed.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Arising from the accident in Granard Co. Longford in June 2007, a Study Group advised on the introduction of a roll over protection system for troop carrying vehicles incorporating roll bars and safety belts. The Defence Forces have begun the process of setting up a programme for the purchase of this equipment. A sum of €400,000 has been allocated for expenditure on the systems for 2008 and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 115 and 122 together. As deputies will be aware, the days prior to my recent visit to Chad had been particularly tense in the region with ongoing clashes between Chadian Government troops and rebel forces. In response to these clashes, EUFOR immediately reinforced the area between the ongoing engagement and the IDP's/refugee camps and sent ground and air...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I wrote to all party leaders early this year, inviting them to nominate a representative to the All-Party Consultation Group on the commemoration of the 1916 Rising. The nominations have been received and arrangements for the completion of the Consultation Group, including representation of Independent members, will be finalised shortly.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 107 and 130 together. During the period 16 –18 June 2008, I took the opportunity to visit Chad, where 393 members of the Permanent Defence Force are currently serving with the UN mandated European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA. The primary purpose of my visit was to see at first hand the work of the...

Written Answers — Military Escorts: Military Escorts (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: From 1995 to 2004 an annual contribution of €2.86m was paid by the banks in respect of Army escorts. The contribution from the banks was designed to part-cover the total costs to the State of providing cash escorts. The agreement which I signed with the IBF on 11 May, 2005 provides that the banks will pay the total actual costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the provision of cash...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The current strength of officers in the Permanent Defence Force and number commissioned from the ranks, as at 27 June 2008, is as follows: Service Strength Number Commissioned from the Ranks Army 1,085 65 Naval Service 152 3 Air Corps 146 4 Total 1,383 72 One of my main priorities as Minister for Defence has been to provide opportunities for enlisted personnel to advance into the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 113 together. Military medical services and their facilities exist 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, occupational medicine, acute trauma management, preventative medical programmes and field medical training. The...