Results 3,801-3,820 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows. Private Office Grade/Position No. Salary Scale Special Adviser (Non-established) 1 Principal Officer standard scale €86,168 – €106,582 Press Adviser (Non-established) 1 Principal Officer standard scale €86,168 – €106,582 Higher Executive Officer 1 Higher Executive Officer standard scale €46,558 – €59,097...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1024 and 1025 together. Mr. Pat Carey, T.D., Minister of State, at the Department of the Taoiseach is also Minister of State at my Department. However, he does not have an office in my Department. The following staff of my Department, both of whom are located in the Department of the Taoiseach, are assigned to cover both the private office and the constituency...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1026 and 1027 together. The number, grade and salary scales of civil servants engaged on constituency work in my Department is set out as follows: Number Grade Salary Scale as at 01/09/2008 1 Executive Officer Executive Officer PPC scale €32,179 – €51,054 1 Staff Officer Staff Officer Scale PPC €36,779 – €49,104 1 Clerical Officer Clerical...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (27 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The text of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 2006. Ireland signed the Convention, subject to ratification, in March 2007. The Convention came into force on 3 May 2008. In line with the Government's decision to sign the Convention in March 2007, it is intended to ratify the Convention as quickly...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The expenses and allowances paid by my Department to me are as follows: Year Travel & Subsistence Minister's Expense Allowance Expenses € € € 2007 711.25 7,258.96 863.41 2008 Nil 13,344.76 2908.53 2009 Nil 1,026.52 Nil The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach is also Minister of State at my Department. The Department of the Taoiseach pays the Minister of State's...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My Department does not provide grant assistance of the kind referred to in the Question.

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The global economy is facing its most grim and uncertain outlook for a long time. As a direct result, Ireland is now confronted with a wide range of unprecedented difficulties on a budgetary and economic front. The Irish economy has several distinctive and unique features. It is an exceptionally open economy. We do not have a sufficiently large domestic market to consume the goods and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In relation to publications for 2008 the information sought by the Deputy is detailed in the following table. Publication Cost Postage â'¬ â'¬ Defence Forces OmbudsmanAnnual Report 18,035.00 3,300.00 Department of Defence Annual Report 8,159.02 Nil Civil Defence Board Annual Report 6,181.00 Nil Office of Emergency Planning Annual Report 300.00 Nil Defence Forces Reports 5,493.33...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (28 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information regarding staff members appointed by me in 2007 post election and in 2008 is set out in the following table. Staff Members Appointments Name Derek Mooney Title Special Adviser / Political Adviser Duties To provide relevant advice to the Minister as necessary Dates of Appointment 14 June, 2007; 7 May, 2008 Salary Scale 1 June 2007 €82,016 – €101,446 Salary Scale 1...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (29 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No final decision in relation to the salvage of Asgard II has been made. However, I will make my decision following consultation with the board of Coiste an Asgard. I can assure the Deputy that a decision is imminent.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Properties: Defence Forces Properties (29 Jan 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The property in question is surplus to military requirements and consideration is being given to its disposal. In this connection, Department officials met with the stakeholders in December 2008 to ascertain if they would have an interest in acquiring the portion of the property that they currently occupy. The matter remains under consideration in my Department with a view to making a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The closure of barracks and the consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. While the decision was made in the context of realising savings in the Defence budget, the decision was not purely a financial one. The consolidation process is designed to facilitate collective training and improved training...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (3 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I have not had recent discussions with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on this matter.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (3 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Since the introduction of the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department has spent a total of €34,394.54 in translation costs, required for implementing its provisions. As the printing costs for documents are not disaggregated into English language and Irish language costs, the specific costs of the Irish language element are unavailable. Year Translation Costs € 2003 1,798.48 2004...

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In keeping with the budget announcement last October, the four military posts at Lifford, Rockhill, Monaghan and Longford closed last week with the personnel transferring to Finner, Dundalk and Athlone. I would like to take this opportunity to record my, and the Government's, appreciation of the professional manner in which the closures and transfers were conducted. The military authorities...

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Deenihan is correct. I gave that commitment and immediately after giving it in the House I spoke to the Army Chief of Staff and his deputy chiefs. I told them if the project could not be completed by 31 January, I would not get too upset. I communicated that to them and they assured me it could be done but that it was a matter for themselves. I admit the situation in Aiken Barracks,...

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I have had no direct complaints from individuals or PDFORRA, their representative organisation. They may have made complaints to the Department or military but certainly have not come to me. The military or Department have not brought these matters directly to my attention. In view of what Deputy Deenihan said, I will ascertain approximately how long the repair works of the new buildings...

Marine Accidents. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. As I indicated to the House previously, the board of Coiste an Asgard decided in early December last to arrange a second underwater survey of Asgard II. Due to factors outside its control, it was not possible to arrange that survey until last week. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the survey could not be completed...

Marine Accidents. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy O'Shea is correct. We did promise last December that there would be a second inspection. However, due to weather conditions, it was not possible to organise it until last week and even when it was organised the weather was so bad the normal type of inspection done in the first instance could not be done. Due to the appalling conditions, all that could be done was to take a sonar...

Marine Accidents. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I have not made a final decision on that yet. The fact is that the Asgard is a very popular institution and it is true that it has been a great ambassador for Ireland. The other side of the story, however, is that the ship does not have any historic significance per se as it is only 30 years old. It is called the Asgard but does not have any connection with the original vessel. We must...