Results 4,201-4,220 of 12,635 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Number 449, 452, 454 and 455 together. As Minister for Defence, the health and safety of Defence Forces personnel and the provision of adequate training and equipment are of utmost importance to me. The Defence Forces complies with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007....

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Emergency planning in this country is developed on the ' lead department' principle. This means that each department is responsible for planning for emergencies that fall within its area of responsibility. National emergency plans are in place for a number of specific emergency scenarios such as a nuclear incident or an influenza pandemic. The Government Task Force for Emergency Planning...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Naval Service training plans are structured to provide the capabilities needed to execute the roles assigned to them under the White Paper on Defence. Priority is given to operational tasks in Ireland. However, the Naval Service also keeps abreast of developments at international level by regular attendance at training courses and seminars at home and abroad. This enables them to adjust their...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (6 May 2009)

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. Pre-deployment training is provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force and is updated on an...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 to 461, inclusive, together. The Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based civil service staff, together with a number of military personnel, to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and for the decentralisation of the Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. The number of staff to be relocated to...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together. The cost arising from the barracks closures over 15 months, including the initial renovation works, is estimated at €3.2 million, against annual recurring savings of approximately €2.7million. Most of the costs at the level of the individual soldier are once off or short-term costs arising from payment of Change of Station Allowance...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (7 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The recent government Decision on savings measures on public service numbers is being implemented in the Defence Forces. In this context all promotion within the Reserve has been suspended for the present. The implications of the Government Decision are currently under consideration by my officials in consultation with the military authorities and the Department of Finance. While the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: From 2004 to date, one member of staff of my Department has been dismissed.

Written Answers — Heath and Safety Regulations: Heath and Safety Regulations (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A pitch and putt course located on the Department's lands in County Cork was closed by the Department in October 2005 for health and safety reasons and has been unused since then. There are no plans to reopen this course. The lands in question are no longer used for military purposes and arrangements are currently being made to dispose of the entire property.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 334 together. 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. 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force is a part-time, voluntary organisation whose primary activity is training. Members are free to determine their own level of participation in Reserve activities and may resign from the Reserve at any time. Their service is provided entirely on a voluntary basis with no compulsion to attend. Members of the Reserve undergo both paid and unpaid training. A gratuity...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The property in question is owned by my Department and is used by the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) on a part-time basis, for training purposes. There are no specific plans for the future use of this property. However, the matter will be kept under review in my Department.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I have not employed consultants or lobbyists to act for my Department outside the State in the past five years.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the period from 1 January 2004 to date the Houses of the Oireachtas passed and subsequently signed into law the following legislation pertaining to my Department: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 Defence (Amendment) Act 2007. None of these Acts were initiated to fulfil EU obligations.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (13 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The property in question is owned by my Department and is used by the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) on a part-time basis, for training purposes. Military personnel from Castlebar Military Barracks look after the caretaking and general maintenance of the property. The cost of running the building in 2008, including electricity, heating, phone and water charges was €2154.35.

Written Answers — Defence Force Representative Associations: Defence Force Representative Associations (13 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that under the terms of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990 the Defence Force Representative Associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated to any trade unions or any other body without the consent of the Minister. Accordingly, the Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA cannot be affiliated to ICTU at present. A similar arrangement applies to the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (19 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Dublin Airport authority was established in October 2004 following the enactment of the State Airports Act. My Department does not, nor has it ever retained the Dublin Airport Authority on any fee basis to advise my Department on planning applications in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome. The predecessor to the DAA, Aer Rianta Teo, did provide support to my Department in the period 1975...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (19 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The recent Government Decision on savings measures on public service numbers is being implemented in the Defence Forces. In this context all promotion within the Reserve has been suspended for the present. The implications of the Government Decision are currently under consideration by my officials in consultation with the military authorities. While the restriction on recruitment,...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (19 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Health & Children is responsible for policy formation in respect of pre-hospital emergency care, and the Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the provision of ambulance services throughout the State. A detailed Service Level Agreement was put in place in 2005 between my Department and the Department of Health and Children to formalise the arrangements...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (19 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of a maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region and on rivers, lakes and waterways in this country. Prior to the Irish Coast Guard, responsibility was with the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. An Garda Síochána have lead...