Results 341-360 of 12,629 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I do not anticipate that I will bring any legislation before the House during the current session. The heads of the Curragh of Kildare Bill were approved by Government on 21 July 2004 and the Attorney General has been formally requested to initiate the drafting of the Bill. I anticipate that the Bill will be ready for publication by mid-2005.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on defence in February 2000 provided for an overall strength of 10,500 for the Defence Forces with the option of an additional 250 recruits in training at any one time. In the event, no operational requirement to exercise the additional 250 option arose. It was decided, having regard to training requirements, an assessment of the defence and security environment and for...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers held at Noordwijk in the Netherlands on 17 September 2004 was attended by my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith. I welcome the opportunity to continue with my predecessor's practice of ensuring that the House is kept abreast of developments in the European security and defence policy, ESDP, and on issues discussed at ministerial meetings. The...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist the Garda Síochána, when requested, which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 72 together. 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. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces to maintain the strength at a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 73 together. My vision for the development of the Defence Forces and my priorities are set out in the White Paper on Defence and in the programme for Government. I intend to follow through on the implementation of the White Paper on Defence and the other commitments we have made to the ongoing modernisation and reform process and to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for internal security rests with the Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Garda as required. Defence Forces Border operations are undertaken as aid to civil power, ATCP, requests. The Defence Forces also assist the Garda with prisoner escorts, cash escorts and explosives escorts. The demands on...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Review: Defence Forces Review (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Ó Snodaigh has raised similar questions on a number of previous occasions. I can confirm that there has been no significant change in the position since my predecessor's response to Question No. 62 of 11 May last. In this regard, the Government's White Paper on defence, published in February 2000, set out a medium term strategy for defence covering the period up to 2010. A major...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together. The Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 provides that an officer appointed or a man enlisted after the date of its passing is liable to serve outside the State with a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force despatched for service with international forces established by the United Nations. With the passage of time since 1960 all...

Written Answers — Medical Services: Medical Services (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The medication administered to the person concerned at the time referred to was human gamma globulin. This was administered on 10 October 1990, 18 January 1991 and 1 April 1991. There is no record in his service medical records of his being administered any other medication at this time. Gamma globulin was administered routinely to all troops serving in south Lebanon prior to the availability...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Chief of Staff received a report from the board of officers in mid June and subsequently sought clarification on a number of matters arising. This clarification, which involved research of archival material, has been received by the Chief of Staff and the report is still under examination. Pending the outcome of the examination, it would not be appropriate for me to comment. I will...

Written Answers — Partnership for Peace: Partnership for Peace (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I have not had discussions with my EU colleagues in the context of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council or Partnership for Peace in the short time since my appointment.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Personnel, on being discharged from the Permanent Defence Force, are obliged to vacate married quarters within a short period of the dates of their discharge. The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married military personnel have an equal claim on such housing as other members of the community in the same income category. The individuals overholding 54...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. It continuously monitors the potential threats to the State arising from international terrorism in co-operation with the Defence Forces. The advice available to me at this time is that, while the Garda authorities recognise that the terrorist threat to Europe may...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper provides an overall strength figure of 10,500 for the Permanent Defence Force all ranks. This figure comprehends provision for the allocation of up to 850 members of the Permanent Defence Force to overseas peacekeeping missions at any given time. At present, there are only 740 members of the Permanent Defence Force serving overseas on such missions.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I am satisfied that military training techniques and equipment, including military vehicles, are up to date in all respects. Defence Forces training plans are structured to provide the capabilities needed to execute the roles assigned to them under the White Paper on Defence of February 2000. Priority is given to meeting operational tasks in Ireland. The challenges of preparing military units...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 930 personnel for the Air Corps. There are no proposals to increase the strength of the Air Corps above the White Paper figure. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces and to continue to maintain the...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (13 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Senator Brian Hayes for his good wishes. I accept that the amendment and all his proposed amendments are put forward with the best intentions to achieve the best legislation. I accept that Fine Gael was very supportive of the idea of an ombudsman for the Defence Forces and put forward suggestions in the Lower House which improved the Bill. I hope the Senator does not take it as a...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (13 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Bill provides that the Defence Forces ombudsman will be appointed to that office by the President acting on the recommendation of the Government. This mirrors the mode of appointment of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. The amendment would require the person appointed to the office of Defence Forces ombudsman to be appointed in a similar mode to other holders of statutory offices...

Seanad: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (13 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The legislation provides for a period not exceeding seven years with provision for a possible second and subsequent term of appointment. The amendments in the name of Senator Hayes would provide for a fixed term of appointment of seven years with the possibility of one second term of appointment only. The second term would presumably also be for a fixed term of seven years. That would amount...