Results 3,881-3,900 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 144 together. In line with the provisions of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan, it is hoped that a small number of Reservists will be able to undertake overseas service in late 2009. The military authorities have identified overseas posts requiring specific skills that may be filled by members of the Reserve. The military...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A contract for the supply of twenty- seven (27) Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles to the Defence Forces was awarded to BAE Systems based in South Africa in December 2008. The contract followed from a detailed tender competition, which was initiated in May 2008, and which concluded in November 2008. The intention is that the LTAV will complement the Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Estimates: Defence Forces Estimates (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In addition to any changes that apply to the public sector generally, the non-pay element of the Defence Estimate for 2009, as published in the context of the Budget, will be reduced by €15 million as part of the overall savings announced by the Government yesterday. Details of the reductions in individual subheads will be contained in the Revised Estimates for Public Services to be...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In line with the provisions of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan, it is hoped that a small number of Reservists will be able to undertake overseas service in late 2009. The military authorities have identified overseas posts requiring specific skills that may be filled by members of the Reserve. The military authorities have sought expressions of interest from suitably...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The re-constituted Oireachtas All Party Consultation Group on commemorative issues met on 9 December 2008. The party members 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.

Written Answers — Defence Forces White Paper: Defence Forces White Paper (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 151 together. The current White Paper on Defence, which was published in February 2000, was the first-ever White Paper on Defence and set out the policy framework and development strategy for the period 2000 — 2010. The overall Government objective was to achieve affordable and sustainable Defence Forces capable of fulfilling the roles laid down by...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Schemes: Defence Forces Schemes (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Significant progress has been made recently in implementing schemes to enable more commissioning from the ranks. The revised cadetship competition is now seen as the primary means of commissioning from the ranks. The cadetship competition has been revised to increase the maximum entry age to 28 and to award bonus marks to candidates with previous experience in the Permanent Defence Force...

Written Answers — Reserve Defence Forces: Reserve Defence Forces (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 outlines the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan provides for the phased enhancement of Reserve capabilities over the period to the end of 2009. In accordance with the Plan, revised organisation structures came into effect in October 2005. The Reserve has been re-organised along similar lines to...

Written Answers — Explosive Devices: Explosive Devices (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with an Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Gardaí as required. Requests for aid to the civil power are normally made by a member of an Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team respond when a request...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The issue of the replacement of the Air Corps Cessna Fleet has been considered by my Department in consultation with the military authorities. The question of funding the replacement programme has to be considered in tandem with the overall equipment requirements of the Defence Forces generally and the funding available for this. The Cessna replacement programme is not a current priority and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 223, 224, 226 and 228 together. Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum...

Written Answers — Discretionary Service Medals: Discretionary Service Medals (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Defence Force Regulations A9 provide for the criteria and procedures for awarding Medals and Decorations to personnel of the Defence Forces. These Regulations require that any recommendations for possible awards must be made in accordance with the relevant procedures, and in the case of recommendations for the award of Distinguished Service Medals, such recommendation should be made not later...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On the 19th September 2005, Ms. Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn SC was appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Government, as the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. I am advised that the Ombudsman has a staff level of four (4), consisting of the Ombudsman, an...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Purchases: Defence Forces Purchases (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used for the acquisition of defensive equipment for the Army. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders, which are assessed on the basis of obtaining best value for money by the Department of Defence. The principles of transparency,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on the Defence Forces in terms...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The press conferences and policy launches held by my Department in 2007 and 2008 were as follows: Date Event Cost 29th March 2007 Review of the 35th Infantry Group KFOR leaving for peacekeeping duties in Kosovo Nil 5th April 2007 Launch by Minister O'Dea of two reports regarding The issues affecting the recruitment and retention of women in the Defence Forces, and A review of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force (Army 8,426, Naval Service 1,144, Air Corps 930) 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 reduction of 3%...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces will continue to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. It is, of course, very important that my Department and the Defence Forces look to whatever efficiencies we can make taking into account the current difficult economic environment and the financial envelope available for the Department for military equipment over the coming...

Written Answers — Air Corps Strength: Air Corps Strength (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force (Army 8,426, Naval Service 1,144, Air Corps 930) 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 reduction of 3%...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Feb 2009)

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. In the 2000 White Paper on Defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be based on an eight ship flotilla and committed to a modernisation and replacement strategy to maximise the operational capacity of those...