Results 3,741-3,760 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force as the strength sufficient to meet all foreseeable military requirements for the period comprehended by the White Paper (i.e. up to 2010). This remains the position. In common with other areas of the public service a payroll cut of 3% has been applied to the Defence Forces for...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years across all facets and elements of the Defence Forces. This investment has been assisted by pay savings arising from the reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force in the context of the White Paper of 2000,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 210 together. There are twenty-three (23) females at senior officer level in the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 October 2008. This consists of twenty-two (22) at Commandant or equivalent rank and one (1) at Lieutenant-Colonel rank. A detailed breakdown of the strength by rank and gender of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are in the following...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In keeping with the commitments in the White Paper on Defence it is intended that the Defence Forces will continue to be modernised over the coming years. Any revenue accruing from the disposal of surplus Defence property will be used to finance equipment acquisition and infrastructure projects within the Defence Forces in accordance with Government policy.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces receive ongoing training 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. Predeployment training is provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force and is updated on an...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I would anticipate that the impact on local communities will be negligible for the simple reason that most of the personnel serving in these installations live in the areas and will continue to do so in the future. In point of fact, the economic impact of the closures could benefit the areas as the barracks are redeveloped. This was the experience of the last consolidation process where...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces continue to make major contributions to international peace keeping through its participation in overseas Peace Support Operations (PSOs). In the course of these operations and based on the Defence Forces extensive experience many lessons have been identified and learned. Following all deployments overseas a detailed "After Action Review" is carried out by the Defence...

Written Answers — Naval Service Operations: Naval Service Operations (26 Nov 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 — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (27 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The appointments referred to have not yet been made. There were a total of two (2) sergeants and seven (7) corporals who applied and competed for the positions. Three (3) candidates have been sent for medical reclassification in order to fill these appointments. The promotions will take place shortly when this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (27 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below. Year Barracks & Location Amount € 1998 — Nil 1999 — Nil 2000 — Nil 2001 Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, Cork 973,889 2002 Devoy Barracks, Naas, Co Kildare 9,271,597 Castleblayney Barracks, Monaghan 763,698 2003 Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, Cork (Lot 1) 41,010,599 Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, Cork...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (2 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Nominations in respect of the composition of the Oireachtas Consultation Group are now complete. The party nominations are: Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Joe Costello T.D., Aengus Ó Snodaigh T.D., and Michael Lowry T.D. as a representative of Independent members. Arrangements are being made for a meeting of the Group to be held at an early date. The initial meeting of the re-constituted group will...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (2 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together. In common with other areas of the public service a reduction of 3% in payroll costs will apply to the Defence Forces. The initial step towards achieving this reduction has been to stop further recruitment for the remainder of 2008. The priority for recruitment is likely to be in areas such as cadets, medical and apprentices. Recruitment...

Written Answers — Departmental Files: Departmental Files (2 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Military Archives, located in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin 6, are the place of deposit for the records of the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Army Pensions Board under the terms of Section 14 of the National Archives Act 1986. Personal files relating to persons who served in the Defence Forces, including those who served before and during the Second World...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (2 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: My Department is engaged in an on-going capital programme designed to modernize and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces both Permanent and Reserve. The programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings. The provision of training facilities and...

Written Answers — Air Ambulance Service: Air Ambulance Service (2 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A Service Level Agreement between my Department and the Department of Health and Children for the provision of an Air Ambulance Service by the Air Corps was signed in September 2005 to formalise the arrangements for the existing service in relation to the provision of an air ambulance service. The signatories to the agreement are the Department of Health and Children, the Department of...

Proposed Legislation. (3 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Labour Party did not do any better.

Proposed Legislation. (3 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It refers to a couple. The limit is €75,000 for a couple and half that amount for an individual.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (3 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised me that the numbers of non-integrated Reserve Defence Force officers by brigade who completed at least one week's full-time training in 2008; the numbers who have qualified for gratuity in 2008; and the numbers of integrated RDF officers for each brigade who completed three weeks full time training were as follows: Formation Completed at least 1 week...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (3 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Para 31(1) DFR R5 (New Series) empowers me to promote RDF Officers commissioned before or after 1 October 2005. The military authorities have advised me that, consistent with the provisions of this regulation, a Lieutenant to Captain promotion competition was conducted in 2008 in order to fill vacancies in the establishment in respect of Captains. I will arrange to have the wording of Paras...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (3 Dec 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Defence follows the normal practice in the aviation business of costing aircraft by reference to the cost per flying hour under either of two headings: The direct cost, i.e. the costs which are additional to those associated with having the aircraft and which only arise when the aircraft is flown including maintenance, fuel and support services; and The total cost, i.e. the...