Results 3,321-3,340 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: The State Claims Agency deals with claims arising from accidents involving Defence Forces vehicles. The Agency has provided the information requested which is outlined in the form of a Tabular Statement. The State Claims Agency works with the Defence Forces on an ongoing basis to examine incidents in order to identify and obviate, if possible, any possible risks of injury to civilian and...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. In the 2000 White Paper on Defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be based on an 8-ship flotilla and committed to a modernisation and replacement strategy to maximise the operational capacity of those 8...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 135 together. 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. Cadet Competition The number of applications received for the Cadetship Competition in 2006, 2007 and 2008 was...

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

Willie O'Dea: One property that was surplus to military requirements at Eldred Terrace, Cork has been disposed of in 2008. Six further properties are in the process of being disposed of. These are the former RDF Premises in Cahir, part of the lands at Renmore, Co. Galway, Ballincollig, Co. Cork, Kilcrohane, Co. Cork and two houses at Orchard Park, The Curragh. Under the Affordable Housing Initiative a...

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

Willie O'Dea: The position is that there are a number of physical and medical standards laid down by the Military Authorities for entry to the Defence Forces. These requirements are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Defence Forces. The Medical Corps...

Written Answers — Reserve Defence Force: Reserve Defence Force (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The yearly trend from April 2007 to April 2008 indicates a similar proportional decline in numbers for males and females in the Reserve. I have previously acknowledged the fact that numbers in the Reserve have decreased over recent years despite the significant improvements arising on foot of the implementation of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan. Steps to incentivise...

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

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. On 31 May 2008, the most recent date for which figures are available, the actual total strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 10,364. The Government remains fully committed to the policy of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 118 and 140 together. The Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based civil service staff, together with a number of military personnel, to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and the transfer of Defence Force Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. Site acquisition, building construction and fit-out costs are borne...

Written Answers — Reserve Defence Force: Reserve Defence Force (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan provides for the re-organisation and development of the Reserve Defence Forces on a phased basis up to the end of 2009. The development of an Integrated Army Reserve is included in the Plan. A pilot scheme for the Integrated Reserve was run in 2007 and while numbers participating were small (180 completed training), very valuable lessons...

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

Willie O'Dea: Initial returns for 2007 indicate that the Defence Forces participated in 37 ceremonial events, including State Ceremonies, during 2007. The total number of personnel involved in all these ceremonies was approximately 6,200. My Department does not compile costs for such events as a matter of course and it has not been possible in the time available to compile the full costs including salaries...

Written Answers — Reserve Defence Force: Reserve Defence Force (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation plan provides for a phased approach to enhancing the capabilities of the Reserve over the period to the end of 2009. The introduction of new RDF organisational structures, the development of new training syllabi, improved equipment and clothing have successfully been delivered as part of phase 1 of the plan. Phase 2 of the Implementation plan is...

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

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a new Reserve Defence Force. This blueprint outlined a new Reserve with a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better equipment and training and opportunities for reservists to serve on overseas peace support missions. An Implementation Plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper...

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

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years across all facets and elements of the Defence Forces. This investment has been assisted by pay savings arising from the reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force in the context of the White Paper of 2000,...

Written Answers — : (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Permanent Defence Forces receive many requests each year to participate in St. Patrick's Day parades throughout the country. Every effort is made to accede to each request as participation in the various parades highlights the community profile of the Permanent Defence Forces. The Defence Forces provided the following personnel and equipment for the 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade in...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Construction work on the memorial in Merrion Square is at an advanced stage and I expect that all works on the site will be completed this month. The arrangements for the official unveiling of the memorial are currently being finalised with a view to an opening ceremony early in the Autumn.

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

Willie O'Dea: I can clarify that there is no pilot project whereby military personnel visit first level and second level schools with a specific view to familiarising students on the activities carried out by the Defence Forces. Rather, there is ongoing contact between the Defence Forces and the secondary schools and third level institutions primarily with a recruitment focus. As I indicated in my reply...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 137 together. Significant progress has been made recently in commissioning from the ranks. The revised cadetship competition is now seen as the primary means of commissioning from the ranks. The cadetship competition has been revised to increase the maximum entry age to 28 and to award bonus marks to candidates with previous experience in the Permanent...

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

Willie O'Dea: There are a number of educational programmes undertaken in the Defence Forces in relation to International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law. The military authorities advise that the position is as follows: Lectures are conducted by legal officers on International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law on all basic officers courses in the Military College. In addition, a day-long seminar...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. Female strength in the Permanent Defence Force has increased from 468 at the end of 2001 to 564 at the end of June 2008. This equates to a rise from 4.38% to 5.44% in overall strength in the same...

Written Answers — : (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It is always a great honour for me to participate in the commissioning ceremony for new officers of our Defence Forces. This was particularly so on the 19th of June at Casement Aerodrome where two ceremonies were held, commencing with the Commissioning of the 26th Air Corps Cadet Class which was followed by the Presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal, with Honour, posthumously to the...