Results 3,681-3,700 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea
- Defence Forces Equipment. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy O'Shea and this is exactly what I am saying. We will lead the field in this regard. There is no one size fits all system but what is encouraging is that testing has already begun. A number of systems will be fitted to other trucks during the coming weeks. After the initial teething difficulties we are well on the way and it is our intention to provide a safe system for...
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 74, 75, 79, 94, 116, 121, 123, 125, 130 and 132 together.
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 74, 75, 79, 94, 116, 121, 123, 125, 130 and 132 together. The military authorities have conducted a detailed review of the immediate requirements to enable the closure of the relevant barracks and the redeployment of personnel to their new locations. In addition, medium-term capital works required in Athlone, Dundalk and Finner, to accommodate the...
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I am sure Deputy McHugh is not suggesting we could make savings by leaving alone the number of barracks, even though there are clearly too many for an army the size of the Irish Army. We are closing four of the seven barracks in the Border region. This is because the threat justifying the establishment of those barracks has disappeared. As far as I am aware, the British army has closed or...
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I intended to address that point earlier when it was mentioned by Deputy O'Shea. Although I am certain no one in the House believes it, we cannot work on the assumption that the economy will never recover. Of course the economy will recover. We are under no obligation to rush out and sell those sites immediately. However, I understand from some of my officials that we have received some...
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I am very pleased that my fellow Limerick colleague, Deputy Collins, mentioned the opening of Thomond Park. It was a stupendous occasion, which words cannot begin to describe. I believe Deputy Deenihan was present.
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: The stadium could only accommodate 14,000 people, yet 500,000 attended the game in 1978. Deputy Collins asked if someone who was re-deployed from a barracks in Monaghan to Dundalk, or someone re-deployed from Lifford to Finner Camp could apply to move to a different location. The answer is "Yes"; it is possible to apply to a different location. I have instructed the military authorities to...
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: The Army did a security analysis and reported to me that there were no down-side security implications. I have to take that as is. With regard to the timeframe, Deputy Deenihan will understand, as will others, that if one is doing something like this one must have a target time; otherwise, nothing will ever get started. The target time in this case is the end of January. If we do not...
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I have written back to PDFORRA saying I was prepared to sit down and talk, not about the substance of the decision but about how it is being implemented, and about any issues such as station allowances and transport.
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I have not yet heard back from the organisation.
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I have not yet heard back. I have given it the opportunity to respond to me. However, if Deputy Deenihan is suggesting it, in the spirit of Christmas I will accept his suggestion that I contact PDFORRA and invite its representatives to a meeting.
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: As I have told the House, a security assessment has been done by the military, which found that there would be no down-side implications. I know the military has acted as an aid to the civil power in Donegal and elsewhere. I have met delegations for hours and heard many stories about crime â people being shot and robbed and so on. That is primarily a matter for the Garda SÃochána, not...
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Deputy McGinley's colleague, Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, has already made strong representationsââ
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: ââto me about going to Donegal and I am considering those.
- Army Barracks. (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: When I make a decision I will come back to Deputy Gallagher.
- Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 108 together. The organisational changes, enhancements to clothing, equipment, training and the piloting of the integrated reserve, all delivered as part of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan, have significantly improved Reserve Defence Force capabilities. It was intended, as part of the plan, that these improvements in capability...
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Representative Associations: Defence Forces Representative Associations (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I am pleased to have an opportunity to clarify this matter. Representation in the Defence Forces was established under the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990. The Act sets out the scope of representation and the purpose for which Representative Associations are established. The legal and regulatory provisions surrounding representation in the Defence Forces are particular to the Defence Forces....
- Written Answers — Naval Service Operations: Naval Service Operations (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking rests primarily with An Garda SÃochána and the Revenue Commissioners. However, the White Paper on Defence provides for a security role for the Naval Service to assist and support the civil authorities in this important work. The Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction was established in 1993 as a Government measure to improve law...
- Written Answers — Random Drug Testing Programmes: Random Drug Testing Programmes (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: Defence Force policy on drug and substance abuse or misuse is centered on the premise that the unlawful possession, supply or use of a controlled drug is incompatible with membership of the Defence Forces. In October 2002 the Defence Forces introduced a Compulsory Random Drug Testing (CRDT) programme. Since then, 8,422 tests have been conducted with 34 tests yielding a positive result (0.4%)....
- Written Answers — Naval Service Operations: Naval Service Operations (26 Nov 2008)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 134 together. After the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine at Dunlough Bay in July 2007 the Naval Member of the Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction was asked to assist the Garda SÃochána in the maritime phase of their investigations. He completed a survey on the RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) used in the attempted importation of the drugs and in...