Results 3,421-3,440 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Both Aer Lingus and the Defence Forces are members of the Public Service Transfer Network, which provides for the reckoning by each participating organisation of earlier pensionable service with any other member of the Transfer Network. Participation in the Transfer Network is voluntary and Aer Lingus decided to become a member of the Network with effect from 1 June 1973. As a result, the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (10 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: During the period from 14 June 2007 to date, I availed of the Ministerial Air Transport Service for official travel as follows: Minister for Defence from 14 June 2007 to 9 July 2008 Aircraft Date Return Date Min. Time on Board Route Learjet 07/11/07 07/11/07 380 Minutes Baldonnel-Lulea-Baldonnel Gulfstream IV 19/11/07 19/11/07 210 minutes Baldonnel — Shannon — Brussels — Baldonnel...

Written Answers — Departmental Guidelines: Departmental Guidelines (10 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am satisfied that Coiste an Asgard and the Civil Defence Board comply fully with the Department of Finance guidelines regarding the procurement of goods and services. I have not considered it necessary to seek assurances from, or to express concern to, either agency on any issue relating to procurement.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As part of the overall savings to be made by Government Departments in 2008, as announced by the Government earlier this week, my Department will be required to make savings of €4.6m in 2008. About €2m of that amount will be met from payroll savings and the balance from a number of subheads of the Defence Vote, including the Administrative Budget. These savings will not affect front...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1359 to 1366, inclusive, together. The Centenary commemoration of the Easter Rising and the other events of the independence period, including the Great War and the Battle of the Somme, will be addressed through a comprehensive programme to be implemented across several years. I will be arranging for a meeting soon of the re-constituted Oireachtas All Party...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A number of alternative locations have been identified and are currently under consideration. It is anticipated that a decision on alternative accommodation will be made in the near future.

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the form of a tabular statement, which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: State agencies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board and Coiste an Asgard.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that the company was not awarded any contract by my Department or any of its agencies in the period in question.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: No member of staff from my Department attended the conference.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Personal data held in electronic form in my Department and the Defence Forces is protected by the application of a stringent security policy, on access controlled servers, with mandatory features such as password protection, user authentication, assignment of rights to designated users only, the installation and monitoring of firewalls and other protective hardware. Daily backups by way of...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In relation to my Department no officially issued computer desktops, laptops or other data devices, such as blackberries and memory keys, have been reported lost, missing or stolen in 2007 and to date. All portable devices are issued on foot of a business requirement authorised at senior level and are recorded, tracked and maintained in accordance with the Department's ICT Security Policy and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy will be aware that 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. Close to 90% of clerical/administrative staff are now in place in preparation for the move to Newbridge. The building is under construction and is expected to be ready...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy is aware, the Government Decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of Defence Force Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. A state-owned site in the Curragh has been chosen for a new building to accommodate DFHQ. The outline design of the building has been developed in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the planning process has been completed. The...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces are considered to be employers under the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005 with a number of exceptions as set out in Section 6 of that Act. An independent environmental health and safety assessment has recently been completed in respect of the Naval Base, Haulbowline. This assessment has concluded that the risk is acceptable meaning that there is no exposure to...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The amount spent by my Department and by agencies under the aegis of my Department on advertising in the Irish language since the enactment of the Official Languages Act 2003 is €212,316.20. In relation to the Defence Forces, the Recruitment and Competitions Section spent a total of €1,108,134 on national media advertisements in the period from 2003 to date in 2008. As all of the...

Written Answers — Air Corps Operations: Air Corps Operations (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Air Corps helicopter fleet comprises two light utility EC135 helicopters and five utility AW139 helicopters, with one further AW139 scheduled for delivery by the end of 2008. The Alouette helicopters were withdrawn from Air Corps service in September 2007. The helicopters are operated by the Air Corps in a general purpose military operational and training role. Primary taskings include...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the following table. Agency Position Held Pay Civil Defence Board Director General Civil Service Principal Officer scale i.e. €86,168 – €106,582. The holder of this position is a member of the Non-Contributory Civil Service Main Superannuation Scheme and the associated Spouses and Children's Contributory Pension Scheme for...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration for 2007 and 2008 of the personnel in my private and constituency offices and those of the Minister of State at the Department of Defence. In addition to four permanent civil servants employed in my Private Office and six permanent civil servants employed in my Constituency Office, I have appointed a Special Adviser, a Press...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (24 Sep 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that the procurement of the Dauphin helicopters in the 1980s followed from competitive tendering competitions at that time based on specifications drawn up by the Air Corps. In 2005, the General Officer Commanding Air Corps recommended the sale of four Dauphin helicopters. The Dauphins at that stage needed significant maintenance and the investment required was considered to be...