Results 3,541-3,560 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On 19 September 2005, Ms. Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn SC was appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Government, as the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Her term of office was recently extended for a further three years from 19 September 2008. I am advised...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There are existing controls in place to ensure that there can be no interference to inventoried weapons assigned to a Unit of the Defence Forces. All weapons are stored in sound and secure premises where access is restricted to designated personnel. There are frequent and detailed inspections of the serial-numbered assets and items of controlled stores. Defence Force Regulation L2 on...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The reduction in funding is due to the fact that substantial travel and freight costs incurred this year on the initial deployment by the Defence Forces to the EUFOR Chad mission will not arise in 2009.

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 29 together. 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The total number of personnel on the payroll of my Department is as follows: Permanent Defence Force Civilian Employees Civil Service Staff* Total 31/12/97 11,472 1,260 426 13,158 31/12/02 10,559 1,025 415.1 11,999.1 31/12/07 10,434 829 385.4 11,648.4 *Whole Time Equivalents. The figures for civil service staff in 1997 and 2002 include staff of the Civil Defence Branch which was set up...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 50 together. I am advised that the Defence Forces signed a contract at the end of May 2008 with a UK company, Air Partner Commercial Jets, for the charter of two Ukrainian Mi -8T helicopters. Air Partner contracted the two Mi-8Ts helicopters from the Ayr Group UK, the owners of both helicopters. The helicopters operate on the civilian register under a...

Written Answers — Military Medical Services: Military Medical Services (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: 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 challenges in the medical arena have been recognised for some...

Written Answers — Air Corps Equipment: Air Corps Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The issue of the replacement of the Air Corps Cessna Fleet is under consideration. The question of funding the replacement programme has to be considered in tandem with the overall equipment requirements of the Defence Forces generally and the funding available for this. As the Deputy may be aware, a very significant level of investment in new equipment for the Air Corps has taken place in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 54 together. A tender competition is well advanced for the acquisition of Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles for the Defence Forces. The intention is that the LTAV will complement the Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in the conduct of conventional and Peace Support Operations and will fill a gap that exists between soft-skinned vehicles and the...

Written Answers — Personal Injury Claims: Personal Injury Claims (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 75 together. Since 2001 the State Claims Agency handle all personal injury claims arising from accidents in this jurisdiction involving Defence Forces vehicles. The Agency has provided the information requested in relation to this category of claim. The Department and the Chief State Solicitor's Office deal with such claims where they arise from...

Written Answers — PDFORRA Conference: PDFORRA Conference (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 71 together. On 8 October 2008, I addressed the Annual Delegate Conference of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA). I sought to make my address relevant, positive and informative. I addressed such diverse issues as the Defence Forces continuing high profile commitment to overseas service, investment in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: 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 for the decentralisation of the Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. The number of posts to be relocated to Newbridge is approximately 200 civil service posts together with 43...

Written Answers — Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 61 together. The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Gardaí as required. Requests for aid to the civil power are normally made by a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector. The...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 36, 43, 49, 51, 52, 56, 57, 62, 69 and 70 together. The EUFOR Tchad/RCA Mission is progressing most satisfactorily. The 97th Infantry Battalion has just completed its four month tour of duty and has been replaced by the 98th Infantry Battalion drawn from the 1st Southern Brigade. The operational situation since July has been relatively quiet due mainly...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As part of the implementation of the Government decision to locate the Defence Forces HQ under decentralisation, services currently provided by St Bricins Military Hospital will transfer to the Curragh. St Bricins will remain in operation as a military medical facility (MMF) serving the Eastern Brigade until a modern facility suitable for the Brigade is provided. Planning for the new...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A meeting of the Oireachtas Consultation Group is being arranged for an early date. I am very grateful for the nominations by party leaders of Deputies Jimmy Deenihan, Joe Costello and Aengus Ó Snodaigh as representatives. A representative of the independent members will be added to complete the Group. The inaugural meeting of the re-constituted group will be informed of progress on...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It is not planned to deploy members of the Defence Forces to serve with either the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) or the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Cease-fire Monitoring Mission in Georgia. One of the reasons for deploying troops in particular missions is the opportunity to demonstrate Ireland's support for relevant organisation. In the case of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (22 Oct 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 — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Arising from the accident in Granard, Co. Longford in June 2007, a Study Group was formed to advise on the introduction of a roll over protection system for troop carrying vehicles incorporating roll bars and safety belts. The total requirement identified by the Study Group included the fitting of the system to 135 trucks. The fleet is made up of 4 different makes/models of vehicles with...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Pensions: Defence Forces Pensions (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The gross cost of Defence Force Pensions for the years 2003-2007 is set out below. 2003 — €133m (million) 2004 — €143m 2005 — €150m 2006 — €164m 2007 — €177m These amounts include all superannuation type benefits (pensions and gratuities) payable to ex-members of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) and their dependants. Details of the average ages and service of all...