Results 3,561-3,580 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: The number of medical staff within the Defence Forces is thirty-two (32) comprised of twenty-two (22) Medical Officers, one (1) Psychologist, four (4) Dentists, one (1) Periodontist and four (4) Pharmacists. In addition, there are twenty-three (23) members of the Army Nursing Service. The number of medical staff who hold a Psychiatric qualification is one (1). The number of medical...

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

Willie O'Dea: The gross total allocation for my Department in 2009 is €1,061m, comprising €852m in the Defence Estimate and €209m in the Army Pensions Estimate. When compared with the allocation for 2008, this represents a reduction of 4% in the Defence Estimate and an increase of 10% in the Army Pensions Estimate, giving an overall reduction of 1.6%. The reduction in the Defence Estimate will be...

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

Willie O'Dea: The significant decrease referred to by the Deputy is due to the completion of two major projects for the Air Corps during 2008. Firstly, a provision of €14 million was included in the 2008 estimates to complete the purchase of two additional AW 139 helicopters from AgustaWestland in Italy. This contract will be completed this month with the acceptance of the last helicopter and will result...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 66 together. The nature of peacekeeping operations is changing from traditional UN led missions to regionally led peace operations with the onus being placed on regional states to organise and assemble peacekeeping troops for the purpose of discharging a UN Mandate. These missions represent the trend in UN peacekeeping where missions operate under the...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 72 together. The Defence property portfolio is kept under ongoing review by military authorities and the staff in my Department to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. This includes ongoing review of the organisation, structure and formation of the forces and the...

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

Willie O'Dea: The reduction of three percent (3%) in payroll costs will apply to the Defence Forces. Recruitment to the Defence Forces will be rescheduled in order to stay within the revised allocation. The Defence Forces will continue to undertake the roles laid down for them by Government. The position will be monitored on an ongoing basis during 2009.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The number of personnel serving in Monaghan and Cavan Barracks is 200 and 128 respectively. I am sure the Deputy will join me in welcoming the return to normality in the border area arising from the peace process. A consequence of this has been the withdrawal of the British Army deployments together with reduced paramilitary activity. This in turn has removed the rationale for us retaining...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces maintain specialist Search and Clearance teams for deployment in each brigade area of the Defence Forces and on most overseas deployments. These teams comprise of specially trained personnel from the Corps of Engineers. They are trained to operate a wide range of specialist detection equipment, including metal detection systems. The Defence Forces provide assistance to An...

Written Answers — Civilianisation Programme: Civilianisation Programme (22 Oct 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...

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

Willie O'Dea: With regard to Ireland's participation in future Battlegroups, we are committed in principle to participation in the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG), which will be on stand-by for the first six (6) months of 2011. Other contributors to the Nordic Battlegroup are Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. Informal discussions have also taken place between staff in the...

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

Willie O'Dea: The lands owned by the Department of Defence at Templebreedy, Co. Cork consist of approximately 37 acres. These lands are surplus to military requirements having been vacated a number of years ago. It is intended to dispose of these lands through a sale on the open market. The Pitch and Putt Club referred to by the Deputy has not operated since October 2005 following an instruction from the...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision of 8th July 2008 set out a requirement for savings to be achieved across the public sector. In this context, the planned recruitment and awareness campaign for the Reserve Defence Force has been postponed. This decision was not taken lightly and it is intended to re-visit this important project when the prevailing budgetary situation permits. As you will be aware there...

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

Willie O'Dea: Earlier this year the projected figure for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force in 2008 was in the region of 690 general service recruits, 30 apprentices 45 Cadets. To date in 2008 a total of 506 general service recruits have been enlisted of which 440 were to the Army and 66 to the Naval Service. Following the Cadetship Competition 41 Cadets commenced their cadet training on 29...

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

Willie O'Dea: A detailed breakdown of the number of recruits enlisted in the Reserve Defence Force and the number discharged since the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force on 1 October 2005 are in the form of Tabular Statements. Recruited to Army and Naval Service Reserve Year Number 2005 1,069 2006 1,124 2007 972 2008 to 31 August, 2008 890 Total 4,055 Discharged from the Army and...

Written Answers — Disposal of Firearms: Disposal of Firearms (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that in the 1990s the Defence Forces provided storage facilities in Clancy Barracks, Dublin for weapons and small arms ammunition belonging to the Garda Technical Bureau. This arrangement was for the purpose of storage only and lasted up until the closure of Clancy Barracks in December 2001. The Defence Forces did not destroy any weapons or ammunition on behalf of the Garda...

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

Willie O'Dea: Ireland participated in the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG), which was on stand-by from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008. The other members of the Nordic Battlegroup were Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. The Defence Forces contribution to the NBG was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (EOD/IEDD) contingent with its own security...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces receive ongoing training and equipment to enable them to participate fully in UN, EU and other missions overseas. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of training, designed to help them carry out their peacekeeping mission and to provide for their protection. Pre-deployment training is provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force and is...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 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. The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The Naval...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. The gross total allocation for my Department in 2009 is €1,061m, comprising €852m in the Defence Estimate and €209m in the Army Pensions Estimate. When compared with the allocation for 2008, this represents a reduction of 4% in the Defence Estimate and an increase of 10% in the Army Pensions Estimate, giving an overall reduction of...

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

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment and facilities for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years in this regard and this investment will continue in the future taking into account the financial situation year on year. The unprecedented level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval...