Results 4,081-4,100 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My Department produces an Annual Report on the performance of the Department and the Defence Forces in accordance with the Public Service Management Act, 1997. In addition, I receive Annual Reports from the Civil Defence Board and from the Board of Coiste an Asgard. These reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to reports commissioned by my Department in the past five years is as follows: In 2004, my Department commissioned a report from an Independent Monitoring Group which was set up to give effect to the recommendations of the Doyle Report (2002) concerning Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Defence Forces. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27 March 2009. As with the public service generally, the defence organisation is required to operate with reduced funding for 2009. In this context, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force has been suspended for the present. I accept that this will disappoint many individuals who have applied...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The closure of Rockhill Barracks was completed on 29 January 2009. A private security firm has been employed to provide security at the barracks in the short term with effect from 30 January 2009. As the appointment of this contractor is temporary, for commercial reasons it would be inappropriate to state the cost at this stage. It is not anticipated that a Private Security firm will need...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On 15 March 2009, MINURCAT, the United Nation's-led mission in Chad and the Central African Republic, assumed operational control of the UN force of 2,085 personnel, including 1,877 troops re-hatted from eight EUFOR contributors. An Irish officer, Brigadier General Gerald Aherne, has been appointed deputy force commander in the mission. In the eight short weeks or so since MINURCAT took over...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It concerns me that there are shortfalls in the mission to date. As Deputy Deenihan is aware, MINURCAT has taken over since 15 March and there are some teething problems. To the best of my knowledge, the fuel crisis was unanticipated. The Irish troops have been sent out to Chad, as have the other MINURCAT troops, to do a job and anything that prevents them doing it to the best of their...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As we will see in the reply to the next question, the restriction on playing sports has nothing whatsoever to do with the fuel crisis.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We will come to that. I was merely responding to something Deputy Deenihan said.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The troops are not confined to barracks. They are not able to engage in some routine patrols due to rationing of fuel. Fuel usage has been prioritised for life supports systems in the camp such as air conditioning, to which Deputy Deenihan referred, and lighting and heating. I am advised that the situation should substantially be resolved within the next three weeks, in which case, I hope,...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In exercising his statutory duty of care to his troops, the Irish commander of the 99th infantry battalion deployed with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, MINURCAT, conducted a risk assessment of all activities, including sporting activities, carried out by personnel deployed in the theatre of operations. It was the commander's assessment that the risk of...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are a number of issues in the Deputy's statement. I do not know whether this restriction is being imposed on other missions, but I can find out for him. The force commander has a responsibility and a duty of care to look out for the health and safety of troops under his command. The reality in Chad is that the ground is extremely hard. Some of the sports are played out on open...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I said 34 or 35.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No, I meant 34 or 35 in total.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: While I do not believe health and safety should be the sole criterion in this regard, we cannot totally ignore it. As far as I am aware, one soldier suffered a serious injury as a result of engaging in sport. Anybody who has visited the region will know that the ground in the area is not suitable for sports involving bodily contact. The commander, the Government and I as Minister have a...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria, including length of service, service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service at home and overseas. Members who serve overseas on UN missions or UN mandated missions, subject to certain criteria, are eligible for the award of the United Nations peacekeepers medal. This medal is awarded...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I understand that people who served 30 days and moved from the EUFOR mission straight into the MINURCAT mission will be entitled to an ESDP medal. The question is whether they will have served sufficient time to also get a MINURCAT medal. As the Deputy knows, only one medal is recognised per tour of duty. The Deputy says that those involved would regard it as more appropriate to get the...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We will be talking to the representative associations about the matter. Some people may be entitled to the ESDP medal but fall just short of the service required for the MINURCAT medal. Some people might not even be entitled to the ESDP medal and also fall short of the service required for the MINURCAT medal, although I do not think that situation arises. If such people believe the...

Defence Forces Equipment. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The reduction in the provision for the Air Corps this year should be seen in the context of the very significant investment in new equipment for the Air Corps in recent years. This comprehensive investment programme included the delivery of eight Pilatus training aircraft at a total cost of €60 million, inclusive of VAT; two light-utility EC135 helicopters acquired from Eurocopter SAS at a...

Defence Forces Equipment. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My understanding is that the 4% relates to a reduction in the payroll. No submissions or representations have been made to me to the effect that our lack of fighter aircraft interferes with training. A function of the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps, is to act as an aid to the civil power, namely, the Garda Síochána. I presume that the Revenue Commissioners are included in this....

Defence Forces Equipment. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy may know, we stopped recruiting in late 2008. When people retire, they will not be replaced. Generally speaking, this is how we will proceed.